Fillings & Alternatives
Biomimetic fillings
Most adults in the U.S. have a dental filling, but not all fillings are created equal. Biomimetic fillings mimic a natural tooth, so they last longer and protect your oral health.
Traditional fillings, either with amalgam (silver filling) or composite (white filling), fill a cavity left behind by decay. While the material fills the space, it leaves the tooth vulnerable to further decay, cracks and sensitivity.
At Alleman Dental, we only restore teeth biomimetically. Even the smallest filling will mimic a natural tooth.
Long-lasting bonds: Natural teeth are fully connected around the pulp (nerve). Biomimetically restored teeth are too. Using gold-standard bonding systems and advanced adhesive techniques, biomimetic fillings fully bond to your natural tooth and last for decades.
Preventing cracks and decay: Using high magnification and caries detector dye, we are able to better treat cracks and decay, which can cause your restoration to fail if left untreated.
Eliminating post-operative sensitivity: The long-lasting bonds that allow your restoration to last decades also eliminate post-operative sensitivity. Exposed tooth structure, like under an amalgam or poorly bonded composite filling, creates inflammation in the tooth’s pulp and the sensation of pain or sensitivity. Fully sealing the tooth, eliminates the cause of a tooth’s inflammation.
The difference between weak and strong bonds is clear in these photos. The first photo shows a failing composite restoration that was not well-bonded to the natural tooth. The second photo is the tooth after biomimetic treatment by Dr. Davey Alleman, DMD.
Silver filling and amalgam removal
Amalgam dental fillings, sometimes called metal fillings or silver fillings, are no longer recommended for new dental treatments thanks to advancements in adhesive dentistry, but many patients still have amalgam fillings in their teeth. With new technology for restorative dentistry now available, many patients ask if replacing their amalgam fillings is a good idea.
At Alleman Dental, we offer amalgam filling removal as part of restorative treatment. There is not an additional charge for treating old amalgam restorations. After the amalgam is removed, the tooth’s vitality is checked and the remaining structure is examined for caries or cracks. Based on any pathologies and the health of the tooth, we will restore the missing tooth structure to mimic the form and function of a natural tooth.
This amalgam filling did not support the tooth’s natural structure allowing a crack to form underneath. The tooth was treated biomimietically by Dr. Davey Alleman, DMD.
White filling failure
While white composite fillings look like biomimetic filling, the difference is underneath the restoration. As Dr. Alleman likes to say, “the seal is the deal.”
The techniques used at Alleman Dental were pioneered by Dr. David Alleman, DDS over 20 years ago, complied from research from the last 40 years. He created a systematic approach to using what at the time was new adhesive dentistry. These techniques offer patients:
Longer lasting restorations: Traditional white fillings fail because they are not well-bonded to the tooth. The techniques we use at Alleman Dental create a bond to all areas of your natural tooth, especially helpful for large or deep cavities. Thanks to the strong bond, restorations have lasted 20 years, and counting.
Conservative treatment: Long-lasting bonds allow us to restore your tooth based on its treatment needs. This conserves more of your health tooth structure compared to traditional fillings and crowns.
Preventative dentistry: Traditional fillings have a gap between the filling material and your natural tooth, which is a pathway for bacteria to enter under your restoration and create decay. Biomimetic fillings seal your tooth to protect the nerve from reinfection, eliminating post-operative sensitivity and decay under your restoration.
White composite fillings fail for a number of reasons, but the result is still the same for patients: retreatment. Biomimetic dentistry stops the cycle of retreatment with long-lasting bonds that mimic a natural tooth. Case by Dr. Davey Alleman, DMD.
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