Tooth Fillings in Egg Harbor Township
Egg Harbor Township, NJ
Cosmetic, Implant, & General Dentistry’s dental patients are a smart bunch! They know that dental amalgam is a type of filling material that has been used for over 150 years. They know that, like most things invented long ago, there are associated problems. A key ingredient in dental amalgam is mercury. Mercury is a neurotoxin and can leach into the environment, where it finally ends up in our food supply. Rising mercury levels in tuna and other fish are one good example.
The European Union (EU) is thinking about phasing out the use of mercury dental amalgam over a five-year period because of these environmental risks. It is estimated that about 45 tons of mercury from EU dental offices end up in chairside drains every year. Only a small portion of this is captured and treated as hazardous waste. The rest ends up in the environment.
There are plenty of alternative restoration materials available for dentists to use. Sweden has already banned mercury filling material, and Denmark, Finland, the Netherlands, and Italy have reduced their use. Other countries have placed strict rules in place if dentists continue using this material. At Serenity Smile Designs: Cosmetic, Implant, & General Dentistry in Egg Harbor Township, we consider all of our patients’ fillings to be cosmetic restorations. After all, who wants to look at any ugly black filling? Tooth colored, lifelike filling materials that reflect the light allow your smile to remain beautiful and natural-looking.
Why do some dentists continue to use mercury-based fillings? Most of the time, it is used because dental amalgam is cheap and easy to use. This is why it is common in dental chain clinics. Restoring a tooth using modern composite materials requires a higher level of skill and takes a little more time, just what Dr. Erik Mendelsohn provides for every patient who walks through our door! Avoiding exposure to mercury for our Serenity Smile Designs: Cosmetic, Implant, & General Dentistry patients, staff, and the environment is worth a little extra effort!
Please contact Serenity Smile Designs: Cosmetic, Implant, & General Dentistry—the mercury-free office—of cosmetic dentist Dr. Erik Mendelsohn today at (609) 277-2175 to schedule your appointment.
A filling is a composite restoration similar to caulk or a sealant that is suitable for a tooth that has minimal damage or tooth decay. Fillings are not designed to reinforce or rebuild significant tooth structure.
A crown is a restoration that fully covers and extends around all of the sides of the tooth when maximum reinforcement or reconstruction of the tooth is required.
An onlay is a restoration, similar to the crown, extending out over one or more of the cusps of the tooth. Cusp tips that are structurally sound and do not require reinforcement are left intact to preserve tooth structure.
An inlay is used when the cusp tips of the tooth are structurally sound, but the tooth needs a stronger, reinforced material to rebuild lost tooth structure.
Schedule your visit with our dentists in Egg Harbor Township, NJ and take the first step toward a healthier smile.
