Composite Bonding Compared With Amalgam Fillings for Gapped Teeth

A gap between teeth can be unforgiving; it can haunt your smiling profile and stick out in photographs. It may hardly bother other people, but it can bother you.

Why Composite Bonding is Suited to Small Gaps

This procedure involves using tooth-coloured composite resin, which is sculpted to close gaps. It means that the dentist can build up the sides of the teeth to disguise the gap, rather than use amalgam to fill it

The colour of the composite can be matched to the patient’s own teeth and the surface can be sculpted to mimic the texture of real teeth. The composite can then be left to set and, if it is done well, it will become barely noticeable.

What Amalgam Fillings were Actually Created For

Amalgam is a dense, grey metal alloy that was historically used to fill gaps caused by decay. It was not designed to be tooth-coloured, and would create a very noticeable contrast if used to fill a space between two front teeth.

There are also other reasons why a gap might need filling, and other factors that could affect the decision to use bonding. Teeth sometimes move out of position for various reasons, for example if they have loosened through periodontal problems. So a dentist would need to make sure that the teeth have stopped moving before attempting to fill a gap.

The Tell-Tale Metallic Shine of Amalgam

The colour of amalgam is very conspicuous, unless it is placed somewhere that it is likely to be hidden; like the back of a molar. If it is positioned between two front teeth, then it is impossible to conceal. Its dull metallic sheen would be far too noticeable to serve as an inconspicuous filling.

Composite resin is far more subtle and realistic in appearance. As well as being more aesthetically pleasing, it allows a great deal more freedom when sculpting. This means it can be contoured to fit the shape of the adjoining teeth more precisely.

Strengths and Weaknesses of Composite Resin

While composite resin is incredibly versatile and can be sculpted into all kinds of shapes, it has a much lower tensile strength than amalgam. It is not recommended for excessive stress, such as opening packets with your teeth.

Reasons to Choose One Procedure Over the Other

A small gap between teeth is the type of job that composite resin was created for. But it should only be used on minor imperfections. Amalgam fillings, on the other hand, were designed for molar teeth and large cavities. The pros and cons of bonding are far more appealing when it comes to small, cosmetic problems.

Another advantage is that it usually involves minimally invasive procedures, and the dentist only removes a tiny amount of enamel in order to prepare the tooth’s surface.

While there are certain circumstances in which bonding would not be suitable and another type of filling would be more appropriate, the type of gap is an important factor when deciding between composite resin and amalgam.

The positioning of the gap and the cause of the gap can both be contributory factors. Sometimes, before bonding can take place, a dentist will have to make sure that the gap is not a symptom of another problem.