Questions about Porcelain Fillings

Serving the Dallas Metroplex, Plano, Highland Park, Fort Worth, and Surrounding Areas

What are porcelain fillings?
Porcelain is a ceramic material very similar in structure to teeth. A porcelain filling is when porcelain is used to "fill" the space in a tooth left after a cavity is removed.

What are composite fillings?
Composite fillings are sometimes called synthetic porcelain fillings or white fillings, since they are the color of your teeth. Their cost tends to be about the same as silver (mercury) fillings.

What are silver amalgam fillings?
These are the types of fillings most people have, especially if their fillings are more than 20 years old. Silver amalgam fillings contain 50% mercury, and due to leakage, usually develop new decay underneath after about 10 years.

What is mercury?
Mercury is a very toxic substance, and exposure to mercury can cause a host of neurological and gastrointestinal problems.

Why was mercury ever used in dentistry?
Because the mercury was contained inside the filling, it was thought that no mercury would ever be able to enter the patient's body and bloodstream. However, this is not the case. Over time, amalgam fillings tend to expand. This can crack the tooth, and expose the body to mercury. Unfortunately, mercury is dangerous in even very minute amounts.

I have mercury fillings - am I in danger?
Potentially, you are. Obviously, not everyone who has mercury fillings is going to get sick, but the risk is still there. The only way to completely eliminate that risk is to have a trained biological dentist safely replace your amalgam fillings with a non-toxic alternative, such as porcelain fillings.

Are porcelain fillings more expensive?
They are, but they are guaranteed to be non-toxic, and most people find the extra cost to be worthwhile.

Please visit our Porcelain Fillings Procedure page.

When it comes to safe, non-toxic dentistry, more and more people in the Dallas/Fort Worth, University Park and Plano, Texas, areas are turning to Dr. Strader and his team! Please contact Dallas Designer Smiles today for more information.