Metal-Free Restorations – Merrimack, NH
Strong, Durable, Mercury Free Tooth Repairs
Crowns and fillings have been used for centuries to help patients with damaged teeth eat and speak properly again. For a long time, these restorations have been made from gold and other metals, but nowadays modern dentists like Dr. Shetty and Dr. Braga have a much more natural-looking solution. Metal-free restorations don’t just bring your teeth back to full strength; they also make your smile beautiful again! If you’ve recently broken a tooth or have an old restoration that needs to be replaced, get in touch with Dental Designs of New England today.
What are Metal-Free Restorations?
In dentistry, a restoration is anything we can use to help a damaged tooth function properly again. For example, if you have a cavity, a filling restores the decayed area and helps prevent further damage. In cases where a tooth has been significantly cracked or broken, a crown can hold it together.
However, metal-free restorations have significant aesthetic advantages. They can be made out of tooth-colored materials such as composite resin or porcelain that very closely match the way enamel reflects the light. We can shade and shape them so that they perfectly blend in. That way, most people won’t even be able to tell your teeth were ever damaged at all!
How Do Metal-Free Restorations Work?
When using composite resin as a filling, we first need to remove the decay from your tooth. We will then place the composite in layers before “curing” it in place; in other words, by shining a bright light on the material, we cause it to harden quickly. During this procedure, we will mold and shape the resin so that it matches the rest of your tooth.
If you need a crown instead, we may need to reshape the sides and biting surface of the tooth in order to make room. Once that’s done, we’ll take an impression that will let us create a temporary crown. Meanwhile, a dental lab will design a permanent restoration, which will normally be ready after a few weeks. Getting a crown usually requires at least two appointments.
Why Would I Opt for a Metal-Free Restoration Over a Traditional Restoration?
- Strength and Durability: Modern porcelain crowns can last an average of 15 years, and they’re strong enough to let you chew all manner of foods.
- Natural Look: With the right shading, metal-free restorations can look just like natural teeth.
- No Allergic Reactions: Some patients are sensitive to metal; crowns and fillings are much safer by comparison.
- Mercury Free: We can replace a filling that contains potentially toxic mercury with composite resin to protect your health.
- Low Risk of Infection: If a metal filling comes in contact with the tooth pulp, it could cause an infection. A composite filling won’t pose such a danger.
- No Metal Absorption: Your teeth could absorb some of the materials of metal dental crowns; you can avoid this with a metal-free restoration.
Cost of Metal-Free Restoration
The cost of a metal-free restoration is usually similar to that of metal ones, and if you have dental insurance you can usually expect it to help pay a significant portion of the price for any treatment meant to restore the health of your tooth. Of course, the exact cost may vary from patient to patient; we’ll make sure you understand the different factors involved and help you create a plan to make your treatment as affordable as possible.
