Amalgam Filling Calgary, Alberta

Dental amalgam fillings are sometimes called “silver” fillings. Because these fillings are silver in colour, they are primarily used to fill back teeth. They are a mix of metals such as silver, mercury, copper and tin. To place this filling, your dentist may first give you local anaesthetic (“freezing”) so you do not feel any pain. Your dentist then takes out all traces of decay from the tooth and shapes the hole. The amalgam materials are mixed together in a “shaker” and packed into the hole in layers. Unlike a composite filling, which is hardened instantly with a special light, amalgam fillings take time to harden (approximately 24 hours).Advantages • These fillings are the least expensive type of filling. • They last a long time. Disadvantages • The silver colour may not be aesthetically pleasing. • They contain mercury (studies have shown that amalgam fillings do not cause illness; they have been used on    people for more than 150 years).

If you have a cavity that needs a filling, there are different kinds of fillings to do the job. The two main fillings we do here at Brentwood Village Dental Clinic are:   and  . Your dentist cares about your oral health. If you have any questions or concerns about fillings, talk to your dentist. He or she will advise you on the type of filling that works best in your particular case.

Composite fillings are also called plastic or white fillings. To place this filling, your dentist may first give you local anaesthetic (“freezing”) so you do not feel any pain. Your dentist then cleans all decay from the tooth and puts a glue (or bonding material) on the inside of the hole. Composite resin is put into the hole in thin layers. Each layer is hardened with the help of a special light that your dentist holds over the tooth. When the last layer of the filling is hard, your dentist shapes the filling so it looks and feels natural.Advantages • These fillings will be the same colour as your natural teeth. Disadvantages • This kind of filling may break more easily than an amalgam filling and may not last as long.• Composite fillings cost more than amalgam.

A dental implant is an artificial tooth root that a dentist places into your jaw to hold a replacement tooth or bridge. Dental implants are an ideal option for people in good general oral health who have lost a tooth or teeth due to periodontal disease, an injury, or some other reason. After teeth have been lost, there is no longer any stimulation to the bone in that area and the bone will actually begin to shrink away. This can affect the overall health of your mouth in many ways such as change in chewing, speech and shifting of other teeth. This unhealthy bone loss can make your jaw line recede. Dental implants can also help prevent deterioration of the jawbone caused by loss of teeth, so your face retains its natural shape. Dental implants can act to not only replace your missing teeth but also are the only “tooth replacement modality” that will also preserve bone levels. We can also use implants as an alternate to bridgework and eliminate the need to grind down healthy teeth when replacing one or more adjacent teeth.Dental implants are so natural-looking and feeling; you may forget you ever lost a tooth. You know that your confidence about your teeth affects how you feel about yourself, both personally and professionally. Perhaps you hide your smile because of spaces from missing teeth. Maybe your dentures dont feel secure. Perhaps you have difficulty chewing. If you are missing one or more teeth and would like to smile, speak and eat again with comfort and confidence, there is good news! Dental implants are teeth that can look and feel just like your own! Under proper conditions, such as placement by a dentist and diligent patient maintenance, implants can last a lifetime. Long-term studies continue to show improving success rates for implants.