Metal-Free Restorations

When you smile, do you reveal teeth filled with metal? Not only do metal fillings detract from the natural beauty of your smile, they can actually damage the teeth they were meant to protect.

Metal fillings react to temperature changes, expanding when exposed to heat (coffee, tea), contracting when exposed to cold (ice cream, cold drinks). This constant movement of the filling (expanding and contracting) can cause the tooth wall to break or fracture. It also creates a space between the metal filling and the tooth wall, allowing bacteria to sneak in and cause more decay.

There are safer – and more attractive – solutions to tooth restoration.

Biocompatible Restorative Materials

There has been an increased concern about the potential health hazards associated with silver-amalgam fillings that contain mercury. Mercury is one of the most toxic metals found in nature. Dr. Winans only restores teeth with metal-free and mercury-free biocompatible materials, including composite fillings and porcelain onlays. Dr. Winans can safely remove any existing toxic fillings and restore your teeth with biocompatible fillings.

Composite Resin Fillings

To restore small cavities, Dr. Winans uses tooth-colored composite fillings. These fillings are made right in the office, are safer for your teeth than metal fillings and restore your tooth to a healthy look without weakening the remaining healthy tooth.

Porcelain Onlays ­

Made of tooth colored porcelain, onlays are used for large restorations. They restore the functional, stress-bearing parts of the tooth, extending over one or more sides of the tooth. They can also be used as a crown or cap. They are conservative restorations that require less drilling than metal fillings. An onlay can often be used to repair only the damaged portion of the tooth, leaving much more of the original tooth structure intact. An onlay is custom fabricated by our lab technicians, then placed on your tooth.

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