Silver fillings were state-of-the-art when they were introduced in the early nineteenth century. Dentists of the day manipulated the metal into crude tooth preparations that had been fashioned with hammers and chisels.  Incredibly, there weren't too many advances in dental materials in the next 150 years.  But then, composites (plastics) and porcelain were introduced that have since revolutionized dentistry.

• The "preparation" that is made to receive the filling material unnecessarily removes healthy tooth structure along with the decayed part of the tooth.  We consider this to be both unethical and indefensible.
• The preparation for silver fillings involves the use of high speed drills that create micro-fractures in teeth. This leads to eventual cusp failure.
• The placement of silver fillings within teeth weakens the outer ring of intact tooth structure. Eventually, the cusps that do hard chewing will be crushed.
• Silver fillings look terrible.
• Because silver fillings are excellent conductors of heat and cold, their placement may unnecessarily lead to tooth sensitivity.
• Silver fillings more easily traumatize nerves within teeth.
• Silver fillings expand and contract depending upon temperature.  Eventually, they wil crack the very teeth they were intended to protect.
• Silver fillings ditch at the margins, allowing bacteria to invade the inner part of the tooth.
• Silver fillings offer no protection to teeth.  In fact, the teeth in which they are placed are structurally compromised.
• Old silver fillings may leach out into surrounding gum tissue, creating discoloration known as an "amalgam tattoo."
• Silver fillings may become paritally dislodged, allowing decay to quickly invade the inner part of the tooth near the pulp.
• Silver fillings are subject to fracture when under load of even normal chewing pressure
• Unlike composite, an existing silver filling cannot be repaired.  If part of a silver filling becomes defective, the entire filling has to be replaced.
• Silver fillings corrode with age, leading to rough surfaces that collect bacterial plaque.
• It is difficult to duplicate the anatomy of a tooth when maniuplating a large silver filling into a tooth preparation.
• The placement of silver fillings is technique-sensitive.  If not performed with great precision, gum disease and tooth decay may result.
• Silver fillings tend to darken teeth.  There is nothing cosmetic or youthful about a silver filling?
• Silver fillings often have overhangs on the surface between the teeth.  These catch and shred dental floss, create chronic inflammation of the gums, and cause decay when trapped food becomes a nutrient base for harmful bacteria.
• Decay is frequently associated with an old silver filling that has been left beneath an existing crown.  We don't understand why dentists would do this, but it's a very common practice to leaven an old filling under a new crown.
• Virtually 100% of the silver fillings that we remove have been compromised with decay.  In other words, it's almost always a good idea to replace old silver fillings.

What can I do if I already have silver fillings in my mouth?

We look very critically at our patients' existing silver fillings.  Often, we recommend their replacement with functional, comfortable, and esthetic restorations, including:

• Direct composite resins
• Indirect porcelain inlays and onlays
• Full coverage porcelain crowns
• (Click on any of these links to learn more: Old Silver Fillings, Cosmetic Dentistry, Single Visit Crowns, or Same Day Crowns).

Our mission statement

Every procedure we provide in our office has a cosmetic component.  Please take comfort in the knowledge that we are committed to esthetic solutions that are in balance with nature.  Providing treatment alternatives to silver fillings is a good example of our efforts to maintain a harmonious environment in which we provide dentistry of the highest quality in an atmosphere of mutual trust and acceptance.  We value our reputation built upon service and invite your participation to help us achieve our goals.

Thanks for our invitations

Our commitment to provide you with quality care is reflected in the new technologies we have introduced to our community.  Many of these have categorically eliminated the need to consider silver fillings as a reasonable treatment alternative.  Therefore, the placement of such fillings is no longer a viable treatment option.  New patients who share your enthusiasm for cosmetic procedures are always welcome in our practice.  Thank you for recommending us to those who appreciate the fact that dentistry has entered a new age.  (Click on these links to learn more: Invitations to Our Practice and Special of The Month).