San Ramon Cosmetic Dentistry Blog | Sean Michael Anderson, D.D.S.

Back in the old days of dentistry, silver fillings – made up of mercury, silver and tin – were the only option. They certainly couldn’t be considered aesthetically pleasing but they filled the need.

Thanks to modern cosmetic dentistry, though, the combination of art and science have produced tooth colored fillings. Here are some of the differences between the two types of fillings to give you a better idea of why cosmetic dentists like Dr. Sean Anderson are choosing tooth-colored fillings over mercury.

• Mercury fillings are packed into the cavity, which means more of the tooth must be removed to allow for compaction
• Tooth-colored fillings are bonded to the tooth so very little, if any, tooth surface must be removed
• Mercury fillings expand and contract as you eat or drink hot and cold; this can lead to cracks or breaks in the tooth down the road
• Tooth-colored fillings insulate the tooth from hot and cold so no cracking or breaking will occur because of the filling
• Mercury fillings can darken over time, even darkening the teeth around it
• Tooth-colored fillings are the same color as your own teeth and will not change color on their own

Opting for using tooth-colored fillings, as Dr. Anderson has, allows our patients the opportunity to smile with loads of self-confidence. They don’t flash a silvery smile; just a beautiful, natural tooth-colored smile.

If you are looking for tooth-colored fillings in the San Ramon, California area, please contact us today.