Metal-free Dentistry

Patients who have had areas of tooth decay, in the past and even presently, may have had their cavities restored with metal fillings. Metal, along with silver amalgam, were once popular materials used for filling tooth decay. While these materials are strong, there are a few concerns that can arise. Silver amalgam fillings have approximately 50% mercury in them and some patients may develop mercury toxicity due to the high levels of mercury in the filling. Additionally, metal (amalgam) fillings are known to expand over time thus causing cracks in the surrounding tooth structure. This can lead to tooth decay along the crack, the need for larger fillings, crowns, and even the need for a root canal treatment. Lastly, some patients also report a higher rate of cold sensitivity in teeth treated with metal (amalgam) fillings. 

At North Aurora Smiles all our fillings are metal and mercury-free, getting the best of both worlds, esthetically pleasing and durable.

Non-Metal Crowns

In the past the majority of the porcelain crowns had a metal substructure. The benefit of adding metal to these crowns is that it gives the porcelain greater durability to withstand the chewing forces on back teeth. However, with these crowns the porcelain over the metal would often wear, exposing the unsightly metal. The porcelain was prone to chipping off the metal and the chipped porcelain many times became a food trap leading to tooth decay under the crown and/or gum issues like gingivitis or bone loss. Additionally, some patients had allergies to the metal in the substructure which resulted in chronic gum irritation or recession, exposing the metal at the gumline which was very unesthetic. 

At North Aurora Smiles all our porcelain crowns are metal-free and are much stronger than the old metal to porcelain crowns.

At North Aurora Smiles we also offer aesthetic non-metal partial dentures for those patients looking to replace missing teeth. Many times the metal of traditional partial dentures is visible in the smile. The Duraflex Partial is both retentive, durable,  and esthetically pleasing. This gives the patient the comfort in knowing they can chew and smile with confidence.

Non-Metal Partial Dentures

Unfortunately, the metal in the fillings, crowns, and partial dentures are unsightly, appearing dark within the smile and highly noticeable to others. With continued advances in dentistry, we now can provide more aesthetic restorations using materials such as porcelain, ceramic, and composite resin.

What can I expect from my switch to metal-free dentistry?

During an initial evaluation our dentists will discuss with our patients the process of removing these restorations and replacing them with more conservative and beautiful alternatives. 

Are you ready for a beautiful smile?

If you are unhappy with past metal restorations and are looking to replace them with more aesthetic alternatives, contact the North Aurora Smiles team. Drs. Hammad Aziz and Stephanie Janes of North Aurora, IL, are committed to offering restorations that are not only effective but beautiful! Call the office at (630) 984-2223 to request a consultation visit with our team of professionals at 601 Randall Crossing Lane. With cosmetic, metal-free dentistry, everyone can have a smile that is natural-looking and attractive!