You’re visiting the dentist for your regular cleaning and checkup, and you hear those words you never want to hear: “You have a cavity.” Even despite our best dental hygiene efforts, sometimes cavities happen. And when they do happen, it’s important to get them filled so they don’t grow worse, potentially leading to infection or [...]
Usually, if a tooth is decayed, a filling can solve the problem and restabilize the tooth. But sometimes, if the tooth is particularly damaged or worn, a filling isn’t enough. These circumstances are where porcelain inlays and onlays really have a chance to shine. What [...]
A new rule adopted by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will require dentists to separate and contain waste from metal amalgam fillings by 2020. Although many dentists take care to safely dispose of amalgam (which contains mercury and additional metals), others have flushed amalgam waste with potentially toxic compounds into public wastewater [...]
There is an increasingly large movement advocating for repairing damaged dental restorations such as tooth-colored fillings rather than replacing them. Advocates say that repairing restorations allows for the use of fewer materials, takes less time, and removes less natural tooth material than replacing the restorations. But there is some question about which approach [...]
Tooth colored fillings, known as composite fillings, have steadily become more common in dental practices since their appearance three decades ago. These white fillings are a popular choice because they can be mixed to match the surrounding tooth, making restoration work less visible. Due to their relative newness, many people may not be [...]
