Owasso Mercury-Free Dentist
Dr. Heng Lim, for all of this century, has placed only mercury-free tooth-colored fillings here at Life Smiles of Owasso. He is a whole-health dentist who understands that you want your dental treatment to harmonize with your health goals.
The Benefits of Tooth-Colored Fillings
Tooth-colored fillings are made from a dental material called composite resin. This is a blend of ceramic particles and polymer. There is no metal involved. When dental composite is applied to teeth and cured, it hardens into a material that is quite similar to tooth enamel. Composite fillings also create a chemical bond with teeth which allows for smaller and more conservative preparations in the tooth. As a result, these fillings are gentle on natural tooth tissues. Moreover, they can be tinted to match the color of the surrounding teeth.
Therefore, mercury-free white fillings have three primary benefits:
- They do not contain any metal.
- By bonding to enamel and dentin, they strengthen rather than weaken teeth.
- By strengthening weaker parts of the tooth, much less tooth structure has to be removed.
- They insulate the teeth against hot and cold stimuli, which means no post-operative sensitivity.
- They blend discreetly into your smile.
Ceramic Inlays and Onlays
Another mercury-free option is to have a filling made from tooth-colored ceramic. While they are more expensive than composite fillings, they are much stronger. If a tooth has a weakened cusp, Dr. Lim can place a ceramic onlay that will cover any cusps.
Your Mercury-Free Fillings
While they are called silver fillings, they actually have more mercury in them than silver. It would be more accurate to call them amalgam fillings, since they are a mixture of about 50% mercury with an alloy of silver and other metals such as zinc and copper. Notice the difference below:
Amalgam fillings are very noticeable in teeth, even from a distance. White fillings, on the other hand, are discreet and give your teeth a whole and healthy appearance.
If you feel you may need some dental treatment and are searching for a dentist who places mercury-free fillings, we would be happy to see you. Call us or request an appointment online to schedule.