Metal Free Dentistry

Metal has been used in dentistry for decades among decades. However, using metal in dentistry has come with its risks from the mercury used in metal fillings to the sharp stabbing metal used in braces.

More and more people have been opting for metal-free dentistry and more dentists are meeting those demands. It has become much easier to find metal-free dentistry over the past few years. Let’s take a look at what metal-free dentistry is and how you can benefit from it.

What Does Metal Free Dentistry Include?

Metal-free dentistry is any form of dental procedure or treatment that doesn’t use metal. Many of these treatments have metal-using counterparts (such as braces,) but now have the option to not use metal to get the same results. More and more procedures are becoming metal-free so you can be sure to find a metal-free version of the procedure you are looking to get.

Metal-free dentistry includes:

More and more treatments have metal-free counterparts that are made with other kinds of materials. With metal-free treatments, there is a wide variety of materials that can be used. For example, composite fillings can be made from acrylic resin, porcelain, glass ionomer, and more.

In other forms of metal-free dentistry, different procedures may use plastic, porcelain, resin, glass, lithium disilicate, and other durable and safe options. Resin and porcelain are some of the most popular metal-free materials. They are the easiest to make look like your teeth and are the easiest to create molds for. Each material has its durability and advantages compared to the other materials on the list.

The Benefits of Metal Free Dentistry

People have found that metal-free dentistry comes with many benefits that make it so they never want to go back to using metal in their mouth.

Durability

While metal dental practices are durable, metal-free dentistry can sometimes be even more durable. Procedures such as composite fillings or veneers can last a decade when using metal-free materials.

Not only will metal-free options last just as long as the metal versions of different procedures, but metal-free options won’t fluctuate in their size. If you get a metal filling in a tooth, that metal can expand and contract depending on the temperature of your mouth, the food/drinks that you eat, and the temperatures you expose your teeth to by being outside. Over time, this can cause metal fillings to fall out and for the cavities to eat away at your tooth again. Metal-free materials won’t expand and contract, so they won’t fall out of your mouth.

No Harmful Metals

If we use metal fillings as an example again, they are made using small traces of mercury. Many people have become wary of using mercury in their mouths, especially with the health consequences that come with long-term exposure to mercury. This exposure can be even riskier for children. Metal-free dentistry doesn’t use mercury or any other harmful metals. It is much safer to use, though the materials used in metal-free procedures are still being researched.

Less Visible

One of the top benefits of metal-free dentistry is that it is invisible in your mouth compared to metal procedures. Whether you are getting composite fillings, veneers, or metal-free braces, by using metal-free options, dentists can make procedures look just like your teeth!

Have your Invisalign braces hide the fact that you have anything in your mouth at all. Composite fillings can be made to look just like your tooth, so people won’t notice at first glance. Other treatments will be made to look just like your tooth and can sometimes be used to make your tooth look even better.

Cosmetic and Health All in One

Finally, using metal-free dentistry combines cosmetic procedures and health procedures in one. This is because many of the metal-free procedures can be done to fill cracks and gaps in your teeth, cover up discoloration, all while fixing another problem you have with your teeth. This will allow you to feel much more confident with your smile.

The Risks of Metal Free Dentistry

Metal-free Dentistry is still very new in the dentistry world and with that, there are still risks being found with these procedures. This new form of dentistry has been formed to counteract the risks associated with metal dentistry, but with that, other risks have popped up. The most relevant risk to metal-free dentistry is the presence of BPAs with plastic and resin materials. Most plastics have some level of BPAs within them, and these metal-free procedures are no different.

It should be noted that the amount of BPAs present in these materials is very low. However, more research needs to be done to know exactly the level of risk that comes with this metal-free dentistry. Do know that scientists and dentists have been working on making metal-free options safe for as many people as possible. An overall con to metal-free dentistry is that it tends to be much more expensive than metal options. This is because this practice is still very new and because of the cosmetic advantages in the practices. With metal-free procedures typically being more expensive, not as many people are as willing to look into them.

Check Out Metal Free Dentistry in Orem, UT

You can find metal-free dental practices in Orem by taking a look at the Orem dentists available to you. Set up an appointment with one of these dentists to talk through the different options you have for improving your smile and the health of your mouth.

If metal dentistry seems too risky or unappealing to you, know that you have options for non-metal procedures that will allow you to keep your mouth healthy. Taking care of your dental health is super important for keeping the rest of you healthy. With these practices done by Orem dentists, you will keep your mouth healthy.

With cosmetic and metal-free dentistry, have a mouth that makes you continuously want to smile.