A cavity is stressful enough without wondering what’s about to be placed inside your tooth for the next decade. Many patients in Pompano Beach are surprised to learn that traditional silver fillings are nearly 50% mercury, a detail rarely explained before the drill even starts. If you’ve been putting off a filling because you don’t want a foreign metal permanently embedded in your body, that hesitation makes sense, and it’s exactly why mercury-free dentistry exists.
At Smile Design Holistic, Dr. Andy Baghaei and our Pompano Beach team restore teeth using biocompatible, mercury-free materials designed to blend with your natural smile rather than fight against your body’s chemistry. We believe a filling should solve a problem, not introduce a new one, and that principle guides every material we choose and every technique we use in the chair.
VISIT
100 SW 6th St,
Pompano Beach, Florida 33060
CALL
(954) 942-4836
CLOCK
MON 8 AM – 4 PM TUE 8 AM – 4 PM
WED 8 AM – 4 PM THU 8 AM – 4 PM
FRI 8 AM – 4 PM
MON 8 AM – 4 PM
TUE 8 AM – 4 PM
WED 8 AM – 4 PM
THU 8 AM – 4 PM
FRI 8 AM – 4 PM
What Are Mercury-Free Fillings?
Mercury-free fillings replace decayed tooth structure using tooth-colored materials, most commonly composite resin, instead of traditional dental amalgam. Amalgam has been used in dentistry for more than a century because it’s durable and inexpensive, but it also contains mercury, silver, tin, and copper fused into a solid metal filling. Mercury-free alternatives skip the metal entirely and use biocompatible composites that bond directly to the tooth.
The result looks and feels far more natural. Instead of a dark gray patch visible every time you smile or laugh, a mercury-free filling matches the shade of your surrounding enamel, so most people can’t even tell it’s there. Because the material bonds to the tooth rather than simply filling a hollowed-out space, it can also help preserve more of your natural tooth structure during the procedure.
Our approach is rooted in whole-body health, not just oral health. According to the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, groups such as pregnant or nursing women, young children, and people with neurological conditions or mercury sensitivity are advised to avoid dental amalgam whenever possible, with mercury-free materials like composite resin recommended for these patients instead. We extend that same precaution to every patient who walks through our doors, regardless of age or health history, because we don’t believe you should have to fall into a high-risk category to deserve a metal-free option.
This is also why safe removal matters if you already have older amalgam fillings. Our team follows careful, controlled protocols when replacing existing silver fillings, ensuring the process remains as safe and comfortable as possible from start to finish.
Getting a mercury-free filling at our Pompano Beach practice feels much like a traditional filling appointment, just without the metal. We numb the area, remove the decayed portion of the tooth, and shape the remaining structure to receive the new material. The composite resin is applied in thin layers, and each layer is cured with a special light before the next is added.
Once the filling reaches the right shape and thickness, we polish it to match the natural texture and shine of your surrounding teeth. Most patients return to eating and speaking normally within a short time, and because the material bonds directly to the enamel, the tooth often regains much of its original strength.
Mercury-free fillings aren’t only useful for new cavities. Patients sometimes come to us wanting to replace old, worn amalgam fillings that have darkened or expanded over time, especially if they are visible when they smile. Because composite resin can be shaded to match surrounding teeth, it is also a popular option for anyone exploring a broader smile makeover or looking to complement orthodontic work such as Invisalign.
Replacing an old filling gives us the opportunity to check for any hidden decay beneath it and strengthen the tooth using modern bonding techniques. It’s a straightforward way to update both the health and the appearance of a tooth in a single visit.
Mercury-free dentistry is one piece of a larger philosophy we bring to every appointment. We view oral health as connected to overall health, which is part of what sets a holistic practice apart from a conventional one. We also know cost is often a real concern when patients are comparing filling materials, which is why we work with financing options like CareCredit and Cherry to help make treatment more accessible.
Choosing where to get a filling placed is a bigger decision than it might seem, and we want Pompano Beach patients to feel confident in that choice. Dr. Andy Baghaei built Smile Design Holistic around biocompatible, mercury-free, and fluoride-free care because we believe dentistry should support your whole body, not just your teeth. From routine cavities to full smile transformations, our team approaches every restoration with that same standard. Reach out through our contact page to schedule a visit, and let’s talk about the mercury-free option that’s right for you.
FAQs
Check out these frequently asked questions, or call us to speak with our team.
Dentistry and nutrition are directly correlated as poor oral health has a negative impact on your ability to properly eat and digest your foods. The converse is also true as patients with poor nutrition may be at risk for tooth decay, cavities, and gum disease. Researchers have also linked common oral health issues to diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and premature or low-weight births. Your dentist can help improve your oral health as well as your digestion, nutrition, and overall wellbeing by identifying dietary contributors to negative health issues. These negative health issues can be identified by smaller signs and symptoms that are present in your mouth that you may deem insignificant. It is easy to think that a simple canker sore doesn’t have a great effect on your overall well being, but it can actually be a sign of a larger issue. That is why it is important to come in for checkups and preventive care regularly.
If you are wondering whether or not you need nutrition counseling, the answer is probably yes. In most cases, everyone can benefit from nutrition counseling in one form or another. Whether it’s as simple as learning more about supplements and proper nutrition, or taking steps to make great improvements to your overall well being, your dentist can help! It’s as simple as coming in for an exam and can be added on to any preventive appointment at our office.
Yes. Dentists undergo extensive training in the healthcare field, specifically dealing with health issues related to the mouth and digestion. This includes looking out for signs of gum disease, oral cancer, GERD, HPV, and more. Your dentist serves as a healthcare educator and is devoted to ensuring you are in the best position possible to make the right choices for your oral health.
Nutritional counseling is usually considered to be an elective treatment by most insurance providers. However, there may be some instances where this is not the case. To find out if you can use your dental insurance benefits to cover nutritional counseling at our office, we recommend getting in touch with your plan provider. We are also happy to go over your plan with you and answer any questions that you may have to ensure you are maximizing your benefits.
** Requested time is not final until you receive confirmation from our office.Please do not submit any Protected Health Information (PHI).
