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Tooth Colored Fillings

Boca Raton

Have you had amalgam fillings done in the past? Those old metal fillings were unsightly, and as the years go by, they can darken and even discolor their entire tooth. Furthermore, they were never bonded to the tooth, but just packed tightly into the cavity. That means that when they get old, they get loose and can even fall out.

Silver-mercury fillings

That amalgam of the old metal fillings contained mercury, and many people consider that to be a health hazard. Slowly and minutely, the mercury gives off mercury vapor into the body, and this prompts people to have those fillings replaced with dental composite or porcelain tooth colored fillings.

There's no definitive proof that the mercury is a health hazard; it's a controversial topic. But if your metal fillings are old, that in itself is a good reason to have them replace, because at some point they'll loosen, allowing bacteria to spread underneath them and begin gum disease.

In addition, they don't look beautiful, so why not enhance the appearance of your teeth by having them replaced with stronger and stain-resistant porcelain inlays and onlays?

Porcelain inlays and onlays

Modern cosmetic dentistry offers more choices, and an experienced cosmetic dentist such as we have at Aesthetic Dental Consultants of Boca Raton can replace those old metal fillings with beautiful translucent porcelain fillings.

What is an inlay?

It's a type of tooth filling that's used for a smaller area of decay or damage, contained within the cusps of the tooth.

What is an onlay?

It's a larger filling used when the area of decay or damage spills over to the outside surfaces of the tooth.

Click Here for More White Porcelain Fillings Photos

Both inlays and onlays are bonded to the remaining tooth structure, so that they are in effect part of the tooth. Visually, they can't be distinguished from the surrounding natural tooth. They provide a strong and durable chewing surface that will never become loose or fall out.

Dental porcelain

This is a brittle material by itself, but when it's been bonded to your teeth it becomes hard and long-lasting. It makes an excellent tooth-repairing substance because it's translucent like tooth enamel.

When light strikes our tooth enamel, it penetrates the enamel and reflects back off the dentin, the tooth layer beneath the enamel. This gives our teeth that pearly white and shiny look. Dental porcelain has the same translucent feature, so that light penetrates it and reflects back off the cement that was used to bond the porcelain to our teeth.

That's why porcelain veneers and porcelain inlays and onlays look so much like our natural teeth. The cosmetic dentist will also choose a shade of porcelain that matches your teeth. The result is that nobody can distinguish the enamel from the porcelain.

Your long-term dental health will be much improved if you upgrade your fillings. And if you have new decay, and need a new filling, more of your natural tooth is preserved when you have inlays or onlays, because they're bonded to the tooth. No space has to be carved out to contain them, as was done with metal fillings.

If you have any questions regarding tooth colored fillings or any of our cosmetic dentistry procedures, or if you'd like to schedule your smile makeover appointment, e-mail us at Aesthetic Dental Consultants of Boca Raton or give us a call at 561.394.9000.

Kenneth A. Mogell D.M.D.

We Make Beautiful Smiles a Reality in Boca Raton.

2900 North Military Trail
Suite 212
Boca Raton, FL 33431

Ph: 561.394.9000
Fx: 561.988.1102

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