Metal Free Dentistry

Resins

In recent years, dentists have learned that the metal fillings in your mouth act much like metal does outside your mouth. Exposed to heat and cold, such as hot coffee or ice cream, the metal fillings in your teeth can expand and contract. As they shift, they can actually weaken the teeth they were meant to protect. Often, the expansion and contraction leads to the entire tooth cracking.

As the filling expands and contracts, it can also leave a small opening where harmful bacteria can enter and become trapped, leading to further decay of the tooth. Rarely does Dr. Evans remove silver fillings without finding additional decay.

The days of silver mercury fillings are now nearly obsolete. Our practice uses no silver mercury, and will be happy to assist you in replacing older, failing amalgam restorations. Today’s porcelain inlays and composite resins create fillings that are not only natural looking but also stronger than materials of the past.

Inlays/Onlays

An inlay or onlay is a much more conservative restoration for the tooth than a metal filling. While traditional fillings can reduce tooth strength up to 50%, inlays and onlays made of high strength resins can actually increase tooth strength by up to 75%, lasting from 10 to 30 years.

Inlays / onlays are created out of fired porcelain, allowing Dr. Evans to perfectly match the color of your natural tooth, making the restoration invisible to the naked eye.

Much like a crown, Dr. Evans will create a temporary inlay / onlay for your tooth, take an impression, and send the model to the lab for the porcelain restoration. You will need to see Dr. Evans to have the final inlay/onlay bonded to the tooth and polished.