Tooth Decay

Amalgam vs Composite Fillings

Silver-coloured dental amalgam fillings are made from a combination of metals, including silver, tin, copper and mercury. They have been successfully used in dentistry since the 1800’s due to their strength, ease of placement and long-life.

Recent concerns regarding ‘mercury poisoning’ from amalgam fillings has very little scientific backing. In fact, removing an amalgam filling releases more mercury than leaving it in the mouth. However, there has been increased awareness of the impact these metals can have on the environment, leading to the phasing out of dental amalgam fillings in parts of Scandinavia.

Amalgam fillings are also rather unsightly. As dental materials have evolved in recent years, we are now fortunate to have access to tooth-coloured fillings, known as composite resins. Composite fillings are made of glass particles and synthetic resin. Composites bond directly to the tooth tissue which means less tooth needs to be removed to place the filling.

At Stanmore Bay Dental Studio, we believe that dental treatment should be as aesthetically pleasing as possible, which is why we have chosen to only use tooth-coloured materials for fillings.