Dental Fillings – Affordable and Long-lasting in Niantic, CT

What are Amalgam 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 materials, 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. On average, most amalgam restorations serve 10 to 12 years, whereas resin-based composites serve about half that time. 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.

Composite vs. Amalgam Fillings

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 and in “enamel sites beyond the height of contour.”

The American Dental Association Council on Scientific Affairs has concluded that amalgam and composite materials are safe and effective for tooth restoration.