When cost is an issue, and a large portion of a tooth is
damaged or decayed, amalgam may be a patient's first choice.
However, the mercury in amalgam fillings expands and contracts
with heat and cold (think of the mercury in a thermometer).
This will eventually cause the filling to fracture your tooth,
and a crown will be required. Frequently these fractures
also require root canal therapy or even loss of the tooth.
For these reasons, an amalgam filling may not be the most
cost effective or most sensible over time. Therefore, when
decay or damage to a tooth is large an inlay or onlay will
often be recommended rather than a filling. |
Dental Fillings
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