Should I Have My Silver Fillings Replaced?

If you have dental amalgam or silver fillings and are wondering if you should have them replaced, talk to your trusted team at Avalon Dental Care. We will examine your restorations and help you decide whether replacing them with white fillings is your best option.

Dental Amalgam Fillings: An Overview

Dental Amalgam or silver fillings have repaired hundreds of millions of cavities over many decades. It is an incredibly strong and durable material that outperforms many other filling options, especially when restoring molars.

Concerns about the safety of dental amalgam arise from time to time, but there’s no evidence to support that it’s better to have your silver fillings replaced. The American Dental Association (ADA) supports using amalgam fillings as a safe, reliable, and effective solution for treating dental decay.

Should You Replace Silver Fillings?

At Avalon Dental Care, we don’t recommend replacing silver amalgam fillings that are functional and free of defects. Just like any other type of filling material, they will need replacement if they show signs of damage.

Here are some reasons we may recommend replacing old silver fillings:

• New Decay:  A new cavity can form underneath or at the edge of a silver filling, putting your oral health at risk.
• Poor Margins: If the silver filling begins pulling away from the tooth, it creates an open margin, a small crevice between the filling and the tooth, which provides an entryway to bacteria.
• A Cracked or Damaged Filling: If the silver filling develops damage or minor stress cracks due to nighttime teeth grinding or temperature changes, it will need replacement.
• A crack in the tooth structure: Silver fillings sometimes cause stress on the tooth structure, making it more likely to crack, which provides an inroad for bacteria.

What Are the Alternatives to Silver Fillings?

There are different types of materials we use to repair tooth decay. If your cavity is small, we typically recommend tooth-colored composite fillings known as white fillings. If, however, you have a large cavity or one or more of your tooth cusps are damaged, we may recommend a dental crown.

Quality Dental Care in El Segundo and Lomita

Visit your trusted team at Avalon Dental Care if you are considering replacing your silver fillings. We will evaluate your restorations and work with you to determine your best restorative dentistry options. You can always count on us for exceptional care and service! Call us and schedule your appointment today!