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Silver or White Filling?

One of the biggest controversy in dentistry today deals with the choice of using an amalgam (silver) or a white filling for cavities.

Over the past few years the popularity of white filling materials have increased tremendously. The white filling material is a composite material is composed of an oligomer with an inorganic filler such as silicon dioxide. It is tooth colored so it blends in with your tooth and it can also be used for cosmetic improvements of the smile by changing the color of the teeth or reshaping disfigured teeth. Composites bond to the tooth to support the remaining tooth structure, which helps to prevent breakage and insulate the tooth from excessive temperature changes.

With recent advances in technology of composite resins, the sensitivity to cold has been drastically reduced. Originally the white filling materials were not strong enough for use on the back teeth but with the newer technology they can withstand the forces of chewing and can now be used on all of the teeth in the mouth. The newer composites also come in more shades and therefore they can be better blended in with the existing tooth.

The dental amalgam filling material has been used for 150 years and has a good track record. Recently there has been a controversy dealing with the safety of the filling material. Dental amalgam is a mixture of mercury, silver, tin and copper. Mercury, which makes up about 50 percent of the compound, is used to bind the metals together and to provide a strong, hard, durable filling. While extremely toxic, when the mercury is combined with other materials in dental amalgam its chemical nature changes, so it can’t be released into your mouth in significant amounts.

Both types of filling materials are suitable to use, the white filling material is more difficult to place as the area needs to be completely dry. The amalgam filling requires more tooth structure to be removed as it needs room for the bonding to occur.

With today’s trends to want more cosmetic pleasing materials, the use of the white filling material will definitely be on the increase.

While the FDA maintains that amalgam fillings are within current safety limits, there is still a major controversy about the safety of the toxic metals used to make up the amalgam.

Make Your Mom SMILE This Mother’s Day

Here at Dana Cosmo Dental, we love seeing our patients smile. Not just because we love to see your beautiful smile that we are working towards, but also because we love to see you happy. But this Mother’s Day, we want to make sure that all of our patients make their mom smile! This year, Mother’s Day falls on May 14th, leaving you with the perfect amount of time to plan the perfect day for your mom!

After asking around the office, the Dana Cosmo Dental team has come up with a few ideas to help ensure your mom has the perfect day that she deserves! But what should you do, where should you go, and how can you make her smile?

 

  • Plan a Day Trip: Your mom is likely busy every day of the week. Whether she works or not, being a mother can be extremely time consuming and stressful. So why not give her a day off and plan a nice day trip to somewhere she loves? We asked some of the moms on our Dana Cosmo Dental team where they envision their perfect Mother’s Day being spent and here are some of the top ideas. If it’s warm out, take a trip to the beach! Or, if your mom is in need of a relaxing day, bring her to a nail salon or a day spa. Maybe your mom is into adventures; why not spend the day at an amusement park? Or take a trip to the local zoo! Think about what your mom loves and start from there.
  • Presents from the Heart: Who doesn’t love getting a homemade present? The easiest way to make your mom smile is to make her a gift from the heart. Head out to your local craft store and look around. Maybe grab a canvas and paint to make her something to hang up. Decorate a picture frame and get a photo of the two of you to put in it. Maybe even learn how to make jewelry and surprise her with your newest talent! If you want to get your mom a present, homemade is one of the best ways to go!
  • Cook her a Meal: We know how hard it can be to get out of bed early on a Sunday morning, but it’s all worth it to surprise your mom with breakfast in bed! This is a day to celebrate your mom, so why not make her a breakfast filled with her favorite foods! Pancakes, cinnamon rolls, waffles, eggs, muffins… our mouths are watering just thinking about it! If your mom isn’t a breakfast person, then what about dinner? Again, just stick with her favorite foods and you’re ready to go!

 

There’s nothing better than seeing someone smile, so make sure to make your mom the happiest she can be this Mother’s Day! From Dr. Zadeh and the staff at Dana Cosmo Dental, we want to wish all of the moms out there a Happy Mother’s Day and thank you for all that you do!