When you have a cavity or a bad area on a tooth, it needs to be removed, to prevent tooth loss.
However, when the cavity is removed the space has to be filled with a Ceramic filling (also known as an inlay or onlay depending on the size. There are three types of fillings – ceramic, composite and amalgam. Amalgam fillings (also sometimes called silver fillings) contain mercury, which is a toxic chemical, so silver fillings are rarely used in dentistry today. Dr van der Merwe only recommend Ceramic (Cerec) fillings, both for new cavities and as a replacement for any existing silver fillings. Aside from the health benefits, Ceramic fillings are also tooth-colored, so they’re barely visible. If you have silver fillings, please contact us today. In most cases, silver fillings are not worth the health risks.