Amalgam Fillings
Good, regular oral hygiene at home in the form of brushing and flossing twice a day, combined with the use of mouthwash and twice-yearly visits to your dentist, will usually ensure that your teeth do not decay or develop cavities. Even so, it is possible for plaque and tartar to build up in hard-to-reach places between check-ups and if you experience pain in a tooth, you may need a filling.
Cavities can be symptom-free in the early stages: if your dentist discovers one during a routine examination, they may recommend a filling or monitor it closely if they feel that a filling is unnecessary at that stage. Amalgam fillings are commonly used and have been tried and tested over time.
What are Amalgam Fillings?
Amalgam fillings are silver or grey in appearance and are made from a mixture of mercury and various other metals. They have been used for many decades by dentists all around the world and have proven to be extremely durable, safe and cost effective.
Amalgam fillings are declining in popularity since white fillings are now just as durable and can be used on all teeth, including molars, and many people prefer tooth-coloured fillings as they are more discreet. However, amalgam fillings are the more cost-effective option and for this reason they remain a common and still-popular treatment for cavities.
Amalgam Fillings at Dee Kay Dental
Many patients who visit our Gainsborough or Sheffield practices for treatment still opt for amalgam fillings, particularly for their back teeth that are not visible when smiling or talking, because amalgams are cheaper than white fillings.
Our dentists take great care to offer our patients choice over which type of filling to choose. They will give you the information you need about how durable and visible your fillings will be when fitted and tell you how much it will cost to use amalgam or white fillings so that you can make an informed decision.
All fillings are fitted in the same way, with local anaesthetic applied to make the procedure painless, and decay is then removed with careful use of a dental drill. The filling material, whether amalgam or white resin, will then be applied and set.
Are Amalgam Fillings Safe?
In a word: yes.
New European regulations that come into effect on 1st July 2018 state that for pregnant or breastfeeding women or children under the age of 15, amalgam fillings should not be the first treatment option considered. This is because the EU is making efforts to reduce the use of mercury in the dental industry, not because of concerns about patient health but because of the potentially damaging impact of mercury on the wider environment.
There is no evidence, from countless years of use, that amalgam fillings cause health problems of any kind. The mercury used in amalgam fillings is stable and safe. Any patients who choose to do so can opt for white fillings instead, which are made from a resin that is durable, safe, strong and have no impact on the environment.
How Much do Amalgam Fillings Cost?
At Dee Kay Dental, our amalgam fillings cost just £115 each. White fillings cost £125 each. On average, amalgam fillings last for around 15 years, after which time your dentist may recommend that they are replaced or repaired.
Get in Touch
If you need a routine appointment, or if you are experiencing dental pain, call us today or complete our Smile Evaluation form and one of our friendly team will be in touch as soon as possible to find a convenient day and time for you to visit. Your dentist will carefully examine your teeth and take an X-ray if clinically necessary before discussing treatment options with you.
