No matter how much care we take of our teeth, decay can occasionally set in. When this happens, it’s important to have a filling in order to retain the tooth’s function and look, and to stop further damage being done to the teeth. One of the most common types of filling is made of an amalgam (mixed) material, a blend of metals usually involving tin, copper, silver and mercury. While this type of filling is strong, they have several disadvantages, most obviously that they do not match the colour of the surrounding teeth, making it very obvious that you have had a filling. More seriously, one of the key components in amalgam fillings, mercury, can be poisonous if overexposure takes place. For this reason, Harley Street Dental Studio in London offers amalgam free fillings.

What are amalgam free fillings?

As the name suggests, amalgam free fillings are made from very different materials from traditional fillings, usually involving acrylic resins and a mix of other materials, depending on the exact type used. One of the major advantages of this type of filling is that the shade can be matched to the surrounding tooth material, meaning that the fillings will be much less obvious than metal fillings. Moreover, amalgam free fillings are made of a much safer material. At Harley Street Dental Studio, experienced staff can remove older, metal fillings and replace them with new amalgam-free fillings, to ensure both health benefits and a better look for your smile. Just as with other types of filling, you teeth will be thoroughly cleaned, and then the new composite material will be applied to the tooth, before being hardened with a special light. Amalgam free fillings do not require any special care once they are in place – just keep your normal good oral hygiene routine.