Natural-Looking / Metal-Free Fillings
Smile Makeover Specialist
In Collierville and Memphis, Tennessee
If you would like to contact Dr. Ettienne van Zyl to ask a question or schedule an appointment visit our convenient contact form.
Metal fillings are not only unpleasant to look at or wear, they can damage your teeth. Fortunately, cosmetic dentistry has achieved metal-free fillings that not only provide a beautiful smile, but also strengthen your teeth and can improve your bite.
Fillings are used to treat cavities, and if you have received fillings in the past, chances are they were metal amalgam fillings. Even if you cannot see the filling, which you most likely can, you can probably still feel it. Fillings make your teeth sensitive to heat and cold, because they expand and contract at a different rate than your surrounding teeth, causing them to push against the tooth and put pressure on the nerve. They also conduct heat and cold deep into the tooth. In addition, because amalgam fillings are not directly bonded to the tooth, there are often areas along the margin of the filling where food and bacteria can collect, causing further decay.
Metal-free fillings are superior to metal amalgam fillings in virtually every way. Metal-free fillings bond directly to the tooth, strengthening and sealing it. They are not susceptible to differential thermal expansion and contraction, which can crack your teeth. They do not conduct heat to the center of your teeth, making you less sensitive to temperature changes.& Finally, they can be crafted and cured during a single visit to the dentist, whether through dental bonding or through the use of the CEREC system.
Today, the state-of-the-art in restoration is metal-free fillings. If you have a cavity, a qualified cosmetic dentist should give you the option of metal-free fillings. Dr. van Zyl – with postgraduate training at the Las Vegas Institute for Advanced Dental Studies – is well versed in the science of metal-free fillings. If you suspect you might have a cavity, or if you have existing metal fillings you wish to replace, call him today! A healthier, more aesthetically pleasing smile is available!
