Dental Amalgam
DiNinno Family Dental – Fitchburg MA
Tooth Fillings
Dental Amalgam is a commonly used dental filling that has been used for over 150 years. It is a mixture of mercury with at least one other metal. Amalgam has many advantages over other restorative material, such as low cost, strength, durability, and bacteriostatic effects.
Amalgam is used in dentistry for a number of reasons. It is relatively easy to use and manipulate during placement; it remains soft for a short time so it can be packed to fill any irregular volume, and then forms a hard compound. Amalgam possesses greater longevity than other direct restorative materials, such as composite. However, with recent improvements in composite material science and a better understanding of the technique-sensitivity of placement, it should be noted that this difference is decreasing and almost negligible.
There are circumstances in which composite (white fillings) serves better than amalgam; when amalgam is not indicated, or when a more conservative preparation would be beneficial, composite is the recommended restorative material. These situations would include small occlusal restorations, in which amalgam would require the removal of a more sound tooth structure, as well as in “enamel sites beyond the height of contour.”
The American Dental Association Council on Scientific Affairs has concluded that both amalgam and composite materials are considered safe and effective for tooth restoration.
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Read Our Patient Reviews on Dental Amalgam Fillings
DiNinno Family Dental
Patient Review By Becky D
My family and I have had nothing but top notch care at Dininno Family Dental!! The make you feel like family while upholding the utmost professionalism. Our family is your typical family, we have 2 children with special needs, and everyone is so understanding and wonderful with them. My boys look forward to seeing "Miss Amy" and "Miss Chris". Then Dr Nicholas comes in and smiles at them to ease them before his examination. Least we not forget the ladies who greet you as you enter, always friendly always smiling and starting your experience here on a positive note. We actually look forward to going to the dentist now.
- Becky D