Maybe all of those advertisements about the dangers of mercury fillings have finally gotten to you. Or perhaps you’re just tired of seeing a sparkling section of silver every time you open wide. Regardless of what your motivation might be, if you’re thinking about your having your old, silver fillings replaced with composite resin fillings to match the natural color of your teeth, then you’re not alone. These days, plenty of people are taking the step to have their mercury-infused fillings taken out in favor of ones that are supposedly safer and more aesthetically pleasing. However, before you jump to make your appointment to have this type of dental work done, you might want to consider the fact that it might not actually be necessary. Dr. Joseph Pizzarello is a dentist at Pizzarello and Silvestro Family Dentistry, a full-service practice that has been serving Stoneham, Massachusetts for the past 15 years, and according to him, unless there’s a specific reason to replace your fillings, you’re probably better off keeping them intact.
The reason why so many people are up in arms about silver fillings is that they do contain mercury, which is considered by many to be a toxic substance. Additionally, some dental professionals believe that mercury fillings can cause tooth breakage and decay. Composite resin fillings, by contrast, are considered by many to be safer and considerably more reliable when it comes to maintaining tooth structure. And of course on a visual level, most would agree that tooth-colored fillings just plain look better.
Despite all of this, Dr. Pizzarello insists that removing mercury fillings for no specific reason is unnecessary and, in fact, a bad idea. When a filling is removed, a degree of natural tooth structure tends to disappear along with it, which can be injurious to the tooth in question. In fact, it’s not unheard of for a patient to go in for a filling replacement and end up needing a root canal – a far more invasive and expensive prospect – as the result of a damaged nerve. Therefore, Dr. Pizzarello feels that filling replacement should only be performed when the circumstances warrant it. If an old set of fillings is discovered to have cracks, leaks, or other such decay, then filling replacement might easily be justified; otherwise, patients are better off leaving their mouths alone.
While not every dentist is bound to agree with Dr. Pizzarello, he is certainly not the only person who feels this way about filling replacement. The American Dental Association agrees that dentists should not remove old fillings unless existing decay is around them. Therefore, if you’re not thrilled with the idea of having your fillings replaced and your current set isn’t giving you any problems, then there’s no need to put yourself through the process.
Dental care can be expensive enough, so why pay for something that plenty of professionals agree is not even necessary? Instead of shelling out a significant sum to have your silver fillings replaced, you can save that money for other aspects of dentistry that will serve you better in the long run.
The information in the article is not intended to substitute for the medical expertise and advice of your healthcare provider. We encourage you to discuss any decisions about treatment or care with an appropriate healthcare provider.
