Tooth-colored vs. Metal Fillings By Danny O'Keefe D.D.S. on August 02, 2011

When you have a cavity, it’s important that you go to you visit Dr. Danny O’Keefe so that he can address the issue as soon as possible. Cavities are signed of tooth decay, and if not treated promptly, the tooth decay can spread and become more serious, leading to many major dental problems going forward. A skilled Jackson, Mississippi area cosmetic dentist like Dr. O’Keefe will strive to preserve as much tooth material as possible, making your smile look great and keeping your teeth healthy.

When it comes to dealing with cavities, dental fillings are usually the best option. These come mostly in the tooth-colored or composite form these days, though some practices still use metal fillings as needed. That said, there are plenty of advantages that tooth-colored fillings have over metal fillings. We’d like to take a brief moment right now to go over these advantages.

For one, tooth-colored fillings are hard to spot. Metal fillings are easy to see when you open your mouth--they’re black or dark gray and can be quite unsightly, especially if you have multiple fillings. Tooth-colored fillings, on the other hand, blend in rather seamlessly with your existing teeth. The composite materials mimic the natural color of the tooth. In addition to this, less tooth structure needs to be removed to prepare a tooth for tooth-colored fillings compared to metal fillings. This means less potential damage or trauma to a tooth.

Metal fillings have some distinct disadvantages that need to be noted. For one, they can contract or expands slightly in extreme temperatures, which may possibly damage a tooth over time. In addition, some metal fillings contained mercury, which is toxic and harmful. It’s actually no surprise for patients to come in to our office so that they can replace their metal fillings with tooth-colored ones. In fact, this is sometimes common procedure in smile makeover, which means patients getting multiple procedures performed at the same time, such as Jackson, Mississippi porcelain veneers, dental fillings, whitening, and so on.

To learn more about your many options for smile enhancement and improving your dental health, contact our cosmetic dentistry practice near Jackson, Mississippi today.

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Dr. Danny O'Keefe

Family Dental Care

At Family Dental Care in Flowood, MS, Dr. Danny O'Keefe and his experienced team provide patients from throughout the greater Jackson area with superior general, cosmetic, and restorative dental care. Our office is equipped with modern dental technology and we offer complete sedation services to enhance patient comfort. Dr. O'Keefe is affiliated with:

  • The American Dental Association
  • The Mississippi Dental Association
  • The Academy of General Dentistry
  • The American Dental Society of Anesthesiology

To schedule an appointment, please fill out our online form or call (601) 936-2526.

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"This office has the most professional dentists and dental staff. They treat you like family every time you're there. I've been a patient for over 15 years and I don't plan on leaving anytime soon." Rita O., Current Patient

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