Roughly 90% of American adults have had at least one cavity during their lifetime. That means millions of people have had fillings or other restorations to repair damage, relieve pain, and restore their oral health and function.
For years, those restorations were made solely or primarily of metal or metal components, but today, metal-free options are an increasingly popular option.
At Novi Family Dentistry in Novi, Michigan, Abir Faraj, DDS, offers metal-free fillings, crowns, bridges, and other restorations in addition to the traditional options, ensuring every patient receives the best and most appropriate care for their needs.
In this post, learn four important reasons you might want to consider a metal-free option for your next restoration.
There’s no doubt that metal amalgam fillings are durable and long-lasting. But it’s also true that they don’t bond well to natural tooth material. Instead, they rest on top of your tooth, creating seams where bacteria can accumulate.
Over time, these seams can become larger, creating pathways that enable bacteria to reach the deeper parts of your tooth. The result is cavities and infection around and under your metal filling.
Metal-free restorations are different. These fillings create a seamless bond between the filling and natural tooth material. That stronger bond prevents bacteria from entering your tooth, so your risk of cavities is significantly reduced.
A lower risk of cavities and infections helps protect your teeth from future damage so you can avoid tooth loss too. But that’s just one way metal-free restorations help preserve your healthy teeth. The way they’re applied also matters.
Typically, preparing a tooth for a metal restoration involves removing more tooth material, resulting in greater weakening of the healthy part of your tooth. Metal-free fillings are “flowed on” to your tooth surface in layers, creating that strong bond while preserving more of your natural tooth and tooth strength.
Metal-free restorations are completely biocompatible, which means they’re made of materials that are friendly to your body’s cells and tissues. There’s no need to worry about sensitivity issues or allergies when you choose a metal-free restoration.
And metal-free restorations contain no mercury, so there’s no need to worry about potential health complications that can occur when metal fillings or other restorations are damaged or wear down over time.
We saved one of the biggest benefits for last: Metal-free restorations are simply more attractive. While metal fillings are bright and shiny in the beginning, they’re also highly visible when you yawn, smile, or speak. Worse, over time the metal darkens, creating an unattractive dark area on your tooth.
Metal-free restorations are made of durable porcelain or composite resins tinted to match the surrounding tooth material. That means once your filling or other restoration is in place, it’s virtually invisible to anyone but Dr. Faraj and her team.
As a result, metal-free restorations renew your naturally beautiful smile, so you look and feel more attractive and confident.
Metal-free restorations are a beautiful, durable way to improve your oral health and smile. To learn more, call 313-646-7903 or book an appointment online at Novi Family Dentistry today.
