Our Frequently Asked Questions
Rubber Dam is an essential tool for the success of numerous dental procedures. It works by isolating the tooth and eliminating the risk of contamination from saliva and bacteria in the oral cavity. The placement of restorative fillings, crowns and veneers requires the tooth to remain dry after the preparation, in order for the material to bond to its maximum strength.
The rubber dam also stops all the water spray and any bad taste from going into your mouth and down the back of your throat. You can breathe comfortably under the rubber dam, and any saliva build up can be evacuated by the assistant at any time during the procedure. At Admire Dentistry we use Rubber Dam as much as possible to ensure you are getting the highest quality of treatment.
Yes, most composite resins contain small amounts of BPA.
The short answer is no.
This is a heavily studied area, and studies continue. There is no evidence to support the claim that the low levels of BPA in composite resins pose a health risk to patients. However, if you are concerned about BPA, you can talk to your dentist about using a BPA-free composite resin filling material.
Yes, Admire Dentistry offers Admira Fusion by VOCO. Admira Fusion is an all-ceramic based material used to restore teeth. It is constructed with material that does not incorporate classic resin monomers containing BPA.
GIC – Glass Ionomer Cement – is a temporary filling material commonly used in dentistry. GIC’s set by an acid-base reaction to form hard, reasonably strong materials with satisfactory appearance. They release fluoride and are bioactive, so they gradually develop a strong layer with the tooth, this gives them great adhesion.
Amalgam fillings have been used in dentistry for over 150 years. This filling material contains a mixture of metal consisting of liquid (elemental) mercury and a powered allow composed of copper, silver and tin. Amalgam fillings can sometimes be referred to as silver, metal, or mercury fillings – however we do not recommend these names as they do no correctly describe the materials in Amalgam
These fillings are strong and long lasting, being less likely to break like some other times of filling material. Amalgam is extremely useful in patients with a high risk of decay, large tooth preparations, and when it is difficult to control moisture (saliva) on a tooth surface (resins are unable to establish a bond if the tooth surface is exposed to moisture). Generally amalgam is less expensive than other filling materials. Amalgam is tried and tested, being used for more than 150years worldwide and in hundreds or millions of patients.
Amalgam fillings can contain elemental Mercury – this material releases low levels of mercury in the form of a vapor that can be inhaled by the lungs. High levels of mercury vapour can cause adverse effects in the brain and kidney. Luckily, the chance of exposure to these high levels is uncommon in a typical dental setting.
If you are or suspect you are sensitive to mercury, silver, copper and/or tin, it is best to avoid an Amalgam Fillings.
Research to date does not show that exposure to mercury from dental amalgam will cause adverse health effects in the general population. However, it is suggested that the following groups of people could possibly be more susceptible to an adverse effect:
-Women planning to become pregnant, Pregnant Women, Breastfeeding women.
-Children under the age of six.
-People with pre-existing neurological diseases
-People with impaired kidney function
-People with an already diagnosed heightened sensitivity to mercury, tine, copper, silver.
No, there are different forms of mercury.
Mercury in fish is called Methylmercury and is mainly absorbed by the digestive system. Dental mercury is Elemental mercury which is absorbed by the lungs. The body processes each type differently and has differing tolerances for each.
It has been noted in some studies that each of these types of mercury can transform into each other in the body – this makes it almost impossible to make a distinction between their potential health effects.
No, we do not have Amalgam Filling material in our practice.
In short the answer to both of these questions is No.
If your fillings are in good condition, there is no tooth decay present, and they are not cracking or causing damage to the tooth structure, there is no good reason to remove and replace amalgam fillings. The unnecessary loss of healthy tooth structure will result when removing an intact amalgam filling. In addition to this, the removal process actually creates an increase in mercury vapour.
As long as the amalgam filling is intact, even in individuals in the above-mentioned susceptible groups, it should not be removed if the intention is only to prevent a health concern
Yes. We are here to provide you with all the information and resources so you can make an informed decision. At the end of the day, your treatment is your choice. We can easily remove an amalgam filling and replace it with a tooth coloured resin material, and in some cases a Crown.
All restorations at Admire Dentistry are completed under rubber dam and high speed suction. The minimal amount of vapour released when removing an amalgam filling is drawn up the suction, and anything missed is collected in the rubber dam so the patient does not ingest it.
Amalgam filling material can cause cracks, and leave undermined areas of tooth structure after removal. When this happens it is important that we correct this with accurate and careful preparation to ensure a well bonded resin filling. We will always do our best to restore and reinforce a tooth after replacing old amalgam fillings, however despite our best efforts, sensitivity can result. Sensitivity can be due to a number of things and it is best you contact your dentist for advice and further treatment.
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just ask our friendly team.
Our highly trained staff are very knowledgeable and always happy to help.
