Common Questions
Q: When I laugh my dark back teeth show. Is there anything I can do to correct this?
A: Silver fillings can be replaced with white tooth fillings.
Many people in Washington State have had silver fillings placed into their teeth because they had "cavities". These silver fillings contain a mix of tin, silver and mercury and are called amalgams. Amalgam fills the space where the decay in the tooth has been removed.
Over time the amalgam corrodes, expands and leaks which blackens the silver, and many times the tooth. This is easily seen as soon as a patient opens his or her mouth and can be a source of embarrassment for the patient. At SoundBridge Dental Arts we can provide you with composite fillings that are made of a mixture of glass or quartz filler in a resin medium that actually bonds to the tooth for a tight seal. They are strong and stain-resistant, and they are color-matched to the natural tooth, making them "invisible".
Other than the white color, the greatest benefit of composite dentistry is that less tooth structure is removed on cavity preparation and may result in a smaller filling than that of an amalgam. Likewise, the "bonded" or adhesive nature of the filling allows for a more conservative repair of the tooth.
Please don't hesitate to call us at SoundBridge Dental Arts with any questions you may have about the benefits of replacing silver amalgam fillings with invisible composite fillings.
Q: Do you place silver fillings?
A: No.
When we opened our office in Gig Harbor, we chose not to place amalgam or “silver” fillings. In today’s age of dentistry we feel there are more aesthetic and safer materials to use.
Amalgams have been placed for 100 years and are still the most commonly placed filling material today according to the American Dental Association (ADA). Even though the ADA has determined their safety, amalgams contain about 50% mercury which is considered a toxic and hazardous material outside of the mouth. When we remove silver fillings from a patient, we eliminate the amalgam debris from the waste water lines protecting our environment. We also protect our patients by utilizing a rubber dam, high speed evacuation, copious water and electric handpieces.
Q: I would love a brighter smile. What do you offer to whiten teeth?
A: Discolored, dark or stained teeth can be revived with tooth whitening dentistry.
Bleaching is a safe, effective and relatively easy means of producing a whiter smile.
Tooth whitening involves the placement of a bleaching solution on the teeth to oxidize stains and discoloration. The solution is held in place by a custom-made, see-through tray that fits over the teeth - much like a thin mouthpiece worn by athletes.
Two bleaching methods are available at SoundBridge Dental Arts: Power bleaching done in our office and at-home bleaching, which is provided for patient convenience (not to be confused with over-the-counter bleaching products available in local drug stores).
The difference between the two is the strength of the whitening agent and the time it takes to get effective results. Power bleaching usually takes three to six applications chair-side, while home bleaching may take two to four weeks of regular use. Sensitive teeth, or those that are chipped, eroded or weakened by cavities, should be repaired or protected before they are bleached. The shade of existing porcelain restorations or fillings is not affected by tooth whitening systems.
Please don't hesitate to call us with any questions you may have about the benefits of tooth whitening or tooth bleaching for a whiter smile.
Joseph M Simpson DDS and Karla M Bloomquist DDS - Providing services in cosmetic dentistry and teeth whitening to areas of Gig Harbor, Port Orchard, Bremerton and Tacoma, Washington.
Tacoma Dentist
© copyright 2005-2008, Drs. Simpson & Bloomquist, DDS - Soundbridge Dental Arts, all rights reserved
