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When It’s Time to Get a Filling | Riverside Dentist

When we don’t take care of our teeth, we can develop cavities. Now it’s time to get a filling. When it comes to what your filling is composed of, there are a few options. And one of these options is amalgam fillings.

Amalgam fillings consist of a combination of metals, including silver, tin and copper, but the mercury allows the filling material to be soft enough to mix and press into the teeth. The compound hardens quickly and is durable enough to withstand the constant pressure of daily activities, such as biting and chewing, making it ideal replacement material.

Dentists have used this combination of metals to restore teeth and fill cavities for more than a hundred years. While it no longer is the only material available, as tooth-colored materials have also become a popular alternative, mercury fillings remain a popular choice because it is generally cheaper and more durable.

In recent years, it’s been shown that as the mercury filling wears, which happens over time, very small amounts of mercury in the form of vapor are slowly released into the human body. Just how much this affects the human body, if it does at all, is debatable and there are experts that conclude that the amount of mercury released is very low to pose any threat. Still, there has yet to be any conclusion as to whether or not mercury fillings are truly safe.

Thankfully, there are alternatives. You can choose from a wide variety of materials, such as composite resin, porcelain and gold. There are also dental amalgams that contain both iridium and mercury, as well as high-copper dental amalgams, both of which contain much less mercury compared to conventional dental amalgams or mercury fillings.

To set up an appointment, call Dr. Middleton’s office in Riverside, CA at 951-688-3442 or through the website. 

Dr. Gerald Middleton proudly accepts patients from Riverside and all surrounding areas.

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Trust Us. You Don’t Want Gingivitis | Dentist in Riverside

There are loads of dental words that sends shivers down our spine. Dentures, root canals – so many words sound awful when presented to us during a dental checkup. It proves we aren’t holding up our share of the bargain and dropping the ball on our daily hygiene practices. And gingivitis is one of those words…

Gingivitis is a condition that falls in the gum disease family – an inflammation of the tissues surrounding and supporting the teeth most commonly a result of poor dental hygiene and characterized by red, swollen gums that bleed easily when teeth are brushed or flossed. However, there are other factors that increase the risk of developing gingivitis:

  • Smoking or chewing tobacco prevents the gum tissue from being able to heal.
  • Crooked, rotated, or overlapping teeth create more areas for plaque and calculus to accumulate and are harder to keep clean.
  • Hormonal changes in puberty, pregnancy, and menopause can causes the blood vessels in the gums to be more susceptible to bacterial and chemical attack.
  • Cancer and cancer treatment can make a person more susceptible to infection and increase the risk of gum disease.
  • Stress impairs the body’s immune response to bacterial invasion.
  • Mouth breathing can be harsh on the gums when they aren’t protected by the lips, causing chronic irritation and inflammation.
  • Poor nutrition will increase the formation of plaque, and a deficiency of important nutrients will impair healing.
  • Diabetes mellitus impairs circulation and the gums’ ability to heal.
  • Some medications promote gum disease.

If left untreated, gingivitis will often extend from the gums to the bone, leading to periodontitis. When the underlying bone gets infected, it will start to recede away from the teeth and form deep gum pockets, and more bone loss occurs.

To set up an appointment, call Dr. Middleton’s office in Riverside, CA at 951-688-3442 or through the website. 

Dr. Gerald Middleton proudly accepts patients from Riverside and all surrounding areas.