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This post is a discussion of the advantages and disadvantages of porcelain vs. silver metal dental filling materials.
I replaced two of my old silver colored metal fillings with two porcelain fillings last year. It was a vanity decision. However, if given another chance, I would have left my old fillings alone.
Silver Colored Metal Dental Fillings
These type of dental fillings are not really silver, but a composite of nickel or cobalt chrome alloys.
The advantages of silver colored metal fillings include:
good resistance to further decay.
excellent durability. It is not uncommon for people to have the silver colored fillings for 40 years or more.
prevent leakage because can be shaped to fit very accurately
do not corrode in the mouth.
only the decayed portion of the tooth needs to be removed.
The disadvantages of silver colored metal fillings include:
its ugly dark silver color. It is definitely not a good idea to fill front teeth with this kind of filling.
conduct heat or cold so they make sensitive teeth even more sensitive.
slightly higher wear or abrasive to opposing teeth. Since the dentist is filling the drilled hole of the decayed portion of the tooth, it rare that the filling would be flush with the remaining tooth. Even a slight raise on the filled portion of the tooth might cause irritation.
Porcelain Dental Fillings
These type of glass like porcelain material is usually teeth colored. It could be used in inlays, veneers, crowns, fixed bridges, and fillings.
The advantages of porcelain fillings include:
good resistance to further decay.
resistant to surface wear, but might wear on opposing teeth.
very little of the tooth needs to be removed for a veneer.
do not cause tooth sensitivity.
closely match the color of the teeth in your mouth. It is less obvious to the world that you had a filling, crown, or veneer.
The disadvantages of porcelain fillings include:
material is more brittle so porcelain fillings do not last as long as silver metal colored fillings. They can break from chewing. Be prepare to replace them a few times in your lifetime.
higher cost since porcelain fillings are “prettier.”
drill out more of your tooth when fitting in a crown because the strength of the crown depends on its size.
same problem of potential slightly higher wear or abrasive to opposing teeth.
One thing to consider when swapping out old fillings
Your old silver metal fillings are stable. No cracks or no leaks. Your old silver metal fillings might be a little ugly, but they perform their job well which is to continue to protect your tooth from further decay.
When you swap out your old silver metal fillings and replace them with porcelain fillings, sometimes your tooth do not recover from the shock of further drilling and the re-fill. Your dentist has to drill out your old filling and some more of your tooth in order to fit in the new porcelain fillings. And do not forget the possible of a slightly higher wear surface. Once the new wear surface hardens, it is more difficult to drill porcelian fillings down to size without worrying about cracking the filling (due to the brittleness of this material).
One of my tooth did not react well to the replacement. It took about 8 months, but I eventually ended up having to get a root canal and a crown for that tooth. Talking to the endodontist, it seems like he gets plenty of patients from people who replaced their old silver metal fillings with new porcelain fillings. Did my dentist warn me of this possibility? Of course not. That is why she is no longer my dentist.
Until next time and thanks for stopping by Small Steps to Health.
Photo by: D. Sharon Pruitt.
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{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
I’ve never given this much thought before! Very interesting.
Sagans last blog post……Difficulties with these Challenges
@Sagan – yeah, this is one of those things you do not think about unless you are dealing with it.
I always have liked the porcelain better myself. It doesn’t make your teeth as sensitive to hot and cold. Good info here.
@ dental – but porcelain are more brittle. they are not meant to last as long as the metal fillings. with a combination of porcelain and metal fillings myself, I cannot say that I notice it all that much since they are on my molars when all said and done.