Metal Free Dentistry and Replacement Alternatives

Composite white fillings
These are very good for small to medium sized fillings. They are bonded into place, removing the necessity to provide 'keys' in the tooth, thus conserving tooth tissue.

Inlays (Composite or porcelain)
An inlay is a filling that is made in the laboratory, and then bonded into the prepared cavity. Inlays are generally used where the filling is larger and or where cusps of the teeth are missing.

A composite inlay is made of a very hard 'plastic', and generally is more forgiving in fit and abrasiveness.
A ceramic inlay has real advantages if someone is allergic or sensitive to petrochemicals. However, they are very hard, and may cause abrasion of the opposing teeth.

'Belle glass' inlays are made from a new category of restorative material, which provides clinical results that are superior to all currently available porcelain or composite alternatives. This is our material of choice at this present time, although we continuously monitor all new materials that come on to the market.

Crowns and Bridges
Reinforced all-porcelain crowns have now been available for over ten years. They are not to be confused with porcelain bonded metal crowns which are more common, but which invariably have nickel as one of the metals within the alloy used.

Those made of a castable glass have now superseded these crowns. These have the added advantage that they can be bonded to the underlying tooth, providing a much stronger unit than merely 'gluing' a crown to a tooth. The material we currently use is 'Empress 2', but again, we continuously assess all new crown and bridge materials that emerge.

'Belle glass', as described above, has produced some very encouraging results in crowns and bridgework, in terms of strength and aesthetics.