Mercury Free Dentistry
Earlier on, with no much advancement in technology, there were not many options of dental treatment for patients. The earliest procedures only involved extraction of the teeth that caused the patients discomfort. May it have been cavities, sensitivity or tooth decay the only available solution was to remove the affected tooth to ease the discomfort.
This was a painful procedure that often left the patients with gaps in the mouth where the teeth had been. As technology advanced however and inventions came up, new ways of treating cavities were introduced. One such new method was the amalgam filling which comprised of an alloy mostly of silver, copper or zinc along with mercury. This was a significant advancement in the field, and it was globally accepted as a more favorable option for dental problems.
However, it came by way of its fair share of disadvantages as it was soon discovered. Mercury being a heavy metal has no place in the human body. The mercury in the amalgams has many negative effects not only on the environment but also and more importantly on the human body. This led medical professionals to look into a solution that didn’t have these effects hence the introduction of mercury-free dentistry.
Instead of using metal fillings to treat cavities and tooth decay, composite fillings are applied, and they have proven to not only be cheaper than the former silver and metal fillings, but they do not pose any health challenge to the patients. Dentists at serenity dental center have taken up this new procedure for their patients, and they also remove the metal filings on patients that may have gotten them earlier.
Metal Fillings are not the way to go
The silver fillings have been used for more than a century, and whereas they may have been preferable back then due to lack of other options and also the lack of knowledge on the health risks, it is time to do away with the harmful procedures. The alloys that make up the composite fillings compose of 50% mercury, and research shows that they release mercury vapor which adversely affects the patient’s internal organs such as kidneys and the brain too. This mostly affects young children and expectant mothers as it affects them neurologically.
With all these undesirable effects Serenity Dental Centre offers quality alternatives in composite or “white fillings” which give the same effect to affected patients minus the negative health risks.
Merits of Mercury Free Procedures
Unlike other procedures such as silver fillings, mercury-free options are relatively safe. White fillings, for example, are composed of synthetic material that causes the patients no harm as they have zero health risks. The patient is also not at risk of swallowing bits of the silver fillings or inhaling mercury which could cause health hazards. Also, unlike amalgams, composite materials are versatile as they repair both tooth and resin damage which is why mercury-free dentistry procedures are recommended as compared to the metal filings which do more harm than good.
Besides that, composite or white fillings are also appealing to the eye due to their beauty which is good for the patient. Composite fillings are also stronger due to the way they bond to the teeth, and they are also cheaper thus making them the better alternative.