For over 2,500 years, gold has been the restorative material of choice by dental practitioners. Even in today’s competitive marketplace where dentists have a wide choice of materials, gold is still preferred because of its outstanding biocompatibility, functional performance, and long-term value.
High gold content alloys have a long history of biocompatibility. In fact, no restorative material is more compatible with the human body. While this has always been an important reason for gold’s use in dental restorations, it is especially important today with patients being more concerned about what goes into their bodies. According to many clinical studies, gold’s biocompatibility with the soft tissue of the oral cavity is unsurpassed. Also, high gold content alloys are not prone to oxidation, staining or plaque accumulation – all impacting favorably on gingival health. Thanks to its purity and smoothness, gold always maintains its looks, and it does not discolor the teeth.
Gold outperforms all alternative restorative materials. While other materials are harder than gold and may cause abrasion damage, or are softer than gold and wear down excessively, gold is the only tooth structure replacement that wears in a similar manner to tooth enamel and does not wear opposing teeth. Gold is malleable and flexes much like natural dentition to adapt to biting pressures. Its coefficient of expansion is the same as that of natural tooth structure. Gold also provides fine, smooth margins that resist microleakage, thus significantly reducing recurrent decay.
The long-term durability of high gold content allows makes them an excellent value as well. Restorations using high gold content alloys can last up to four times longer than alternative materials. Of course, a cavity can form around any restoration, but it is less likely to develop around gold, because gold fits so nicely against the tooth and maintains this nice fit for decades unlike the other materials. Also, gold alloy doesn’t chip or break like the other materials can and do. This means less replacement or repair is needed around gold restorations. Each time a filling gets replaced, the next filling is always larger. This means that your natural tooth becomes smaller, thinner, and weaker and may eventually break or need a protective restoration like a crown to protect it from breaking. In addition, the trauma to the tooth by replacing a filling irritates and damages the tooth’s nerve. If this is done too many times, the tooth’s nerve can become irreversibly damaged and may need root canal therapy. When looked at in this light, gold is a very cost-efficient solution to your restorative needs.