{"id":1404,"date":"2024-01-12T01:05:59","date_gmt":"2024-01-12T01:05:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.wyliechildrensdentistry.com\/blog\/?p=1404"},"modified":"2024-01-31T01:07:48","modified_gmt":"2024-01-31T01:07:48","slug":"kids-replace-metal-fillings","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.wyliechildrensdentistry.com\/blog\/2024\/01\/12\/kids-replace-metal-fillings\/","title":{"rendered":"Why Should I Have My Child\u2019s Metal Fillings Replaced?"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignright size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"558\" src=\"https:\/\/www.wyliechildrensdentistry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/AdobeStock_54965647__1695679050_74708.jpg\" alt=\"Smiling child\" class=\"wp-image-1405\" style=\"width:301px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.wyliechildrensdentistry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/AdobeStock_54965647__1695679050_74708.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.wyliechildrensdentistry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/AdobeStock_54965647__1695679050_74708-300x209.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.wyliechildrensdentistry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/AdobeStock_54965647__1695679050_74708-768x536.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p>Dentists have used fillings to treat tooth decay in patients of all ages for centuries. Up until recently, the most favored material for dental fillings was amalgam, a blend of metals such as silver, copper, and mercury. While these were effective at restoring damaged teeth, they can be quite visible within someone\u2019s smile and may put the patient at risk for higher levels of mercury in their blood. Here\u2019s why replacing your child\u2019s old amalgam restorations with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wyliechildrensdentistry.com\/tooth-colored-fillings.html\">tooth-colored fillings<\/a> may be a great idea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<!--more-->\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What Is Dental Amalgam Made From?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Dental amalgam is an alloy made of metals like silver, tin, copper, and mercury, and it has been commonly used in dentistry for more than 150 years. While amalgam is strong, affordable, and durable, it has a few significant drawbacks for fillings. Metal readily expands and contracts in response to temperature changes, and this can cause a patient discomfort or even damage the tooth. Dental amalgam also starkly stands out from the color of natural enamel, making it quite visible when the patient grins or laughs. Most significantly of all, the heavy metals in amalgam may be harmful over time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What Risks Come with Fillings Made from Dental Amalgam?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Mercury is the only metal in a liquid state at room temperature, and it gives off a vapor that people can inhale. Once inside the lungs, it can travel to many other parts of the body, leading to toxic effects in key organs like the kidneys and the brain. Many experts believe that amalgam fillings can lead to the accumulation of this harmful heavy metal in the body\u2019s tissues. However, there is not enough data to conclusively demonstrate that this build-up of mercury eventually results in organ damage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How Are Tooth-Colored Fillings Better?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Tooth-colored fillings are made of a composite resin that imitates the color of real teeth and readily forms bonds with the existing enamel. This results in a lifelike restoration that restores much of the tooth\u2019s natural strength. It also contains no mercury or other toxic materials, and it doesn\u2019t expand or contract rapidly as a result of changing temperatures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you\u2019re looking for a way to replace you\u2019re child\u2019s metal fillings, tooth-colored fillings may be the answer. Consulting with your pediatric dentist can determine if tooth-colored restorations are a suitable course of treatment for your child.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">About the Author<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Dr. Allen Pearson graduated with his dental degree from the Creighton University School of Dentistry before completing a one-year General Practice Residency at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. He is an active member of the American Dental Association, the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, and the Texas Dental Association. His office in Wylie, TX offers pediatric general, cosmetic, restorative, and emergency dentistry. For more information on the benefits of tooth-colored fillings, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wyliechildrensdentistry.com\/contact.html\">contact the office online<\/a> or dial <strong>(972) 429-7070<\/strong>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Dentists have used fillings to treat tooth decay in patients of all ages for centuries. Up until recently, the most favored material for dental fillings was amalgam, a blend of metals such as silver, copper, and mercury. While these were effective at restoring damaged teeth, they can be quite visible within someone\u2019s smile and may [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v22.6 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Should My Child\u2019s Metal Fillings Be Replaced? | Dr. Allen Pearson<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Recent studies find that people with amalgam fillings may have higher mercury levels in their blood. Here\u2019s why replacing your child\u2019s may be a great idea.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.wyliechildrensdentistry.com\/blog\/2024\/01\/12\/kids-replace-metal-fillings\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Should My Child\u2019s Metal Fillings Be Replaced? | Dr. Allen Pearson\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Recent studies find that people with amalgam fillings may have higher mercury levels in their blood. 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