Hello Everyone!! Over the weekend I received an email from a patient that I thought I would share with everyone. The email reads: Doc, Remember those silver fillings on my left side? They dont hurt me or anything like that, but they are UGLY. Can we change them to white fillings? Or shoudl I leave it alone? Thanks, MH- Silver fillings, also known as amalgam fillings, have been used by dentists all around the world for many years. It is a mixture of metals consisting of liquid (elemental) mercury and a powdered alloy composed of silver, tin, and copper. Approximately 50% of dental amalgams is elemental mercury by weight. However, there are a few pros and cons that I thought I would share with everyone. Pros- Amalgam fillings are strong, long lasting, and less likely to break than any other types of fillings. And, it tends to be inexpensive. Cons- Here is where it gets interesting. Amalgam fillings contain mercury, but not the same mercury you would find in fish. Its ...

Greetings and Salutations, A question came up today from a patient. I thought it would make a GREAT topic for this week. The questions was: "Can you tell me more about dental sealants? Can my kid have them?" It's a common question, that frankly, doesn't get enough attention. Sealants are a thin plastic coating that is painted on the chewing surfaces of the teeth. Usually, not always though, sealants are placed on back teeth. Sealants quickly bond to groves and depressions in the teeth which is then used as the protective shield. It helps prevent decay from starting in those hard to get areas. For children, it is very common for kids to be evaluated between the ages of 6 and 14. Placing sealants at these ages can help prevent cavities. OH BUT WAIT! They aren't just for children though. Adults can benefit from sealants. The only thing is; it gets tricky when it comes to insurance. Most of the time, sealants are a covered benefit---but only for children bet...