Amalgam fillings are a mixture of silver copper and tin powders soaked with mercury. It has been used as filling material in dentistry for many years. Amalgam fillings were frequently preferred in the old periods of dentistry due to their easy availability, ease of application and cheapness.
Since amalgam fillings are mechanically attached to the tooth, extra expansion may be needed after the tooth is cleaned of caries. After this expansion, amalgam filling is applied to the tooth. However, since the tooth loses too much material after this expansion, its resistance to chewing forces decreases.
Since amalgam material transmits chewing forces directly to the tooth, it can cause many micro cracks in the tooth itself. In fact, most of the time, patients apply to us as “my tooth is broken, not because my amalgam filling is broken”. This is reflected as a result of the inability of our tooth to meet long-term chewing forces and the accumulation of stress within itself.
So which restorations can be made to our teeth after amalgam filling replacement?
First of all, after amalgam filling replacement, the teeth can be filled with BPA (bisphenol A) free composite. Frequently, fillings are also supported with fibre-reinforced filling materials to meet the chewing forces.
If the remaining tooth tissue after amalgam filling replacement is suitable for “inlay, onlay” filling structure, also called porcelain filling, porcelain filling option can also be evaluated according to your doctor’s recommendation.
Finally, if the tooth tissue remaining after amalgam filling replacement is not very suitable for composite filling and porcelain filling options, if the loss of material is too much, especially with the loss of three of the four walls of the tooth, porcelain veneers are often preferred in the restoration of the tooth.
The most accurate restoration choice to be applied after amalgam filling changes will be the most suitable option for your mouth, teeth and chewing structure with the recommendation of your physician.
Healthy Days.
