Are you looking for a new dentist to look after you and your family? In this 10-part series of Interview Questions for Your New Dentist, we will go through the things you should be asking your new dentist before going ahead with them.
In today’s video, we will go through the question: Are you using Mercury for my filling?
I know it is okay to use mercury fillings in Australia. However, here at Dental House, wouldn’t put mercury in the mouths of our families or our patients. We use a composite or tooth-coloured filling material instead.
Mercury is toxic. The only place we can legally put mercury is in your mouth or in a hazardous waste container. Norway and Sweden have already banned the use of mercury fillings. In fact, America is also considering banning it.
Even without the toxicity controversy, the use of mercury fillings is still questionable. Mercury expands and contracts with temperature changes, just like in an old fashioned thermometer. This can lead to cracked teeth.
On the other hand, composite fillings look a lot more natural. They bond to the teeth and make them stronger, whereas mercury fillings can weaken the tooth. Teeth with composite fillings are less sensitive to hot and cold, and they require less removal of tooth structure.
So before you get your dental filling, make sure you ask your dentist, are you using Mercury for my filling? Here at Dental House, we only use composite or ceramic filling with all our patients.
I hope you found this video useful.
