Composite vs. Amalgam Fillings

So your kids' dentist found a cavity in one of your child's teeth. Thank goodness it's a small cavity, but it does need filled immediately. Should it be filled with silver amalgam or composite filling material? Is there a big difference between the two materials?

Amalgam Fillings

Composed of silver, copper, tin, and liquid mercury, amalgam is a popular cavity filling material due to its strength, ease of use, and ability to withstand repetitive biting forces exerted on molars. Affordable and offering good sealing properties, amalgam can be applied quickly on moist teeth, a feature that makes it an excellent choice when filling cavities in children. Concerns about mercury poisoning from amalgam fillings has also been thoroughly researched, with the FDA concluding that mercury level in amalgam fillings is so low that it poses no threat to a child or an adult's health. 

Composite Fillings

Composite fillings are tooth-colored fillings made from powdered quartz particles and acrylic resin, which are used to fill cavities in all teeth but is an especially popular type of "aesthetic" filling for cavities in front teeth or teeth that are visible when a person smiles. Composite resin is available in a variety of off-white shades that can be matched to your child's enamel color, so the filling is close to invisible. However, composite resin is not as strong as amalgam fillings and is best suited for front teeth, where chewing forces are less robust.

Composite vs Amalgam

While very small to medium-sized cavities on the sides of molars or pre-molars do well with amalgams, large cavities should be filled with composite resin. Although strong, silver fillings tend to break or fall out of large cavities. Moreover, when an amalgam falls out, the tooth has usually experienced some cracking and damage that requires the dentist re-prepare the area before refilling the cavity.

What the American Dental Association Says about Amalgam and Composite Fillings

The ADA reports that amalgam is the best option to fill cavities affecting molars while composite fillings may be used to fill cavities in front and teeth that are visible when smiling or talking. Your kids' dentist will also help you make a decision by recommending which type of filling is more appropriate for your child's cavity after considering the size, depth, and location of the cavity.

Should kids use mouthwash?

Parents should always be on the lookout for ways to help their children maintain and care for their teeth and gums. Sometimes, children want to add things to the oral health regimen like using mouthwash. But how effective is this for children? What are the implications of using it, and when is the appropriate time for children to begin using mouthwash? Flossing and brushing are the best methods for preventing tooth decay, but children may develop an interest in using mouthwash to help their oral hygiene. 

Young children are not advised to use mouthwash because mouthwashes may contain alcohol or fluoride components which can have harmful effects when swallowed in large amounts. It is less likely for older kids and teenagers to ingest the products---unlike younger children, particularly below the age of six. Children between six to twelve years should be supervised by adults if they have to use mouthwash for their daily oral hygiene routine. Those under the age six should avoid using fluoride mouth wash, because they could easily swallow the fluoride components.  Excess fluoride exposure for children whose permanent teeth are not fully developed can result in fluorosis, a harmless but unsightly condition that leaves spots or streaks on the teeth.

Teenagers can use mouthwash as a breath-freshening agent and, in the process, reap the benefits of a fluoride rinse. Children who have braces are good candidates for using fluoride rinses. The rinse protects their teeth from producing acid-producing plaque bacteria that builds up under the brackets. Numerous mouth rinses contain alcohol. If alcohol content is a concern as a parent, mouthwashes with no alcohol content exist and are just as efficient for freshening breath. Children should constantly be reminded that the use of mouth rinse does not replace daily flossing and tooth brushing.  Mouthwash is just one more thing that can be added to help the preservation of a healthy smile.

Another important thing to consider is the manufacturer’s label. Precautions are outlined affirming age recommendations for use of a particular fluoride mouthwash. It is usually advisable to speak to your kid's dentist for accurate and informed utility of any mouth rinse. Regular use of mouthwash provides additional protection against cavities as compared to those of using toothpaste alone. Such precautions will help prevent tooth decay in your children.