Metal-Free Fillings
If you develop a cavity, we recommend repairing it as soon as possible. Waiting too long can result in more damage to the tooth and the need for more extensive dental work.
At Smiles of Orange, we are a metal-free, amalgam-free dental office, and we exclusively use tooth-colored ceramic material for all our fillings. Our fillings are BPA-free and compatible with living tissue or biocompatible.
Advanced Laser Cavity Detection
With dental exams and teeth cleanings every six months, we can help prevent decay from advancing and damaging a tooth. Another way we stay a step ahead of cavities is with advanced DIAGNOdent laser cavity detection.
A low-level laser illuminates tiny areas of decay that would otherwise go undetected with a visual exam and even on an x-ray.
Ozone Therapy and Tooth Decay
Holistic or biological dentists often use ozone or O3 therapy to safely treat tooth decay without removing the remaining healthy part of the natural tooth. In cases of moderate decay, we often don't need to drill or fill the tooth because ozone gas therapy destroys the bacteria that caused the cavity.
Why We Don't Use Metal Amalgam Fillings
There are several reasons why we don't use silver amalgam fillings:
- Amalgam fillings are a mixture of metals, including mercury.
- Silver fillings gradually become dark grey in appearance and can stain the tooth and leave a dark spot in your smile.
- Over time, the metal in amalgam expands and contracts with temperature changes in the mouth. The movement opens small spaces between the tooth and filling, allowing bacteria to enter the tooth and lead to further decay.
- A mercury filling requires removing significant healthy tooth structure, potentially weakening the tooth we're trying to protect.
Benefits of BPA-Free Tooth-Colored Fillings
Many patients are aware of the potential hazards of mercury exposure with amalgam or silver fillings. However, they are just learning that composite fillings may contain BPA derivatives, so we exclusively use ceramic or porcelain fillings.
Because we bond custom-shaded ceramic filling material directly to the tooth, we can also preserve healthy tooth structure. The filling won't react to temperature change as amalgam does, and the result is a durable repair and a strong, healthy tooth.
Tooth-colored fillings at our Orange, CA dental office look natural because they closely resemble tooth enamel and come in many shades of white. Our dentist can place a filling that matches surrounding teeth for a discreet repair.
Removing Amalgam Fillings with SMART Protocol
If you choose to remove an existing amalgam filling, Dr. Jackson is certified in SMART protocols by the International Academy of Oral Medicine and Toxicology (IAOMT). SMART stands for Safe Mercury Amalgam Removal Technique, which involves stringent safety measures to contain mercury vapors and particles released when removing amalgam fillings.
Before we agree to remove amalgam fillings, Dr. Jackson will explain our safety measures and what you can expect from the process.
Learn More about Metal-Free Fillings in Orange, CA
At Smiles of Orange, your overall health and wellness are our priorities. If you think you have a cavity or would like us to remove your amalgam fillings, please call us to schedule an appointment.
Smiles of Orange offers metal-free fillings for patients in Orange, Villa Park, Tustin, Yorba Linda, Brea, Santa Ana, Irvine, Newport Beach, and surrounding communities.
Frequently Asked Questions
We are a metal-free, mercury-free dental office that offers safe removal of mercury fillings in Orange, CA. Dr. Jackson is certified and trained in the safe removal of mercury fillings using SMART protocols.
Safe Removal of Mercury Fillings in Orange, CA
SMART stands for Safe Mercury Amalgam Removal Technique and involves stringent safety measures set forth by the International Academy of Oral Medicine and Toxicology. The steps we follow protect our patients and staff and ensure that mercury vapors released are safely contained when removing amalgam fillings.
For example, each treatment room must have adequate filtration in place to remove mercury vapors and amalgam filling particles from the air. Patients and staff must wear protective coverings, and oxygen is delivered to the patient to avoid inhaling the vapors released.
Should You Have Mercury Fillings Removed?
It’s a good idea to have mercury fillings removed, but it may not be the right step for everyone. We recommend scheduling an appointment with Dr. Jackson at our Orange, CA dental office so she can examine your fillings and explain her findings to you.
If we agree that removing your amalgam fillings is appropriate in your case, she will explain the safety measures we have in place and what you can expect from the removal process.
Please call Smiles of Orange to schedule an appointment to get started!
Meet Our Doctor:
Dr. Maryam Jackson
Dr. Maryam Jackson graduated from the NYU College of Dentistry as an Oral Medicine Honors Student and graduated from the University of California Irvine on the Dean’s Honor Roll.
Dr. Jackson likes to take an integrative approach to dentistry and not only solve her patients’ symptoms but also seek the reason behind the problem. She enjoys treating and educating adults and children alike in their oral health. She has volunteered at elementary schools doing dental exams and providing preventative care. Dr. Jackson has also taken mission trips to Mexico through her ...
Metal-Free Fillings Technology
Digital X-Rays & Digital Sensors
We offer comprehensive dental exams every six months, but not all problems can be seen with a visual exam. Dental x-rays are invaluable because they give us the full picture of your oral health so we can diagnose conditions that we can’t see during a visual exam.
At Smiles of Orange, we use digital x-rays because your overall health and well-being are critical to us. These x-rays expose our patients to about 80 percent less radiation than traditional film x-rays and provide much greater detail. Since dental problems commonly develop inside teeth or under the gums, digital x-rays allow us to accurately and safely plan treatment.
Taking digital x-rays is also more comfortable because we use flat, comfortable digital sensors to capture the images. The result is clear, crisp digital images that are highly detailed and easy to share with patients on their chairside monitor. You can see what our dentist sees to understand your treatment needs and the benefits better.
We store all digital x-rays securely on our in-house network and can easily retrieve them to monitor conditions or send them to specialists or insurance companies.
Electric Handpieces
Patients often tell us that sounds like the high-pitched whining of an air-driven drill are anxiety triggers. We are pleased to tell you that at Smiles of Orange, we use only electric handpieces that eliminate the noise and vibration of air-driven equipment.
We create a more comfortable experience for you with electric handpieces, and we can work faster and with greater precision. Since our dentist has greater control, she can be more precise and preserve more healthy tooth structure when removing decay and preparing teeth for restorations like dental crowns. Our hygienists can remove plaque and tartar most efficiently to ensure your comfort and minimize your time in the dental chair.