| Allan I. Abolafia, D.D.S. |  |
Allen W. Ackerman, D.D.S. |
| THE TOOTH TRIBUNE |
Gold: the Real Thing
The special place that gold holds in the world of fashion and adornment is one primarily about vanity. We hang it from our necks and put it around our wrists and fingers. We even make holes in places where none existed, so that we can hang some gold there.
In the realm of dentistry, however, gold is not merely to please the eye or to show off the pocketbook. It has a place of distinction that it holds because of its unique qualities and attributes.
Gold is used in dentistry, quite simply put, because under some circumstances it is the best material to use for the replacement of missing tooth structure. Amalgam (“silver” fillings) is an excellent restoration material, but there are times when its physical properties are inadequate for the amount of tooth replacement that is needed. Gold is kind to opposing teeth. Another way in which gold is special is that it does not react with any of the things we put into our mouths. It is easy to use both for the technician who makes the replacement and for the dentist who inserts it. Gold replacements can last for a lifetime in a properly cared for mouth.
An onlay restoration is more limited and conservative. This type of restoration attempts to keep the cheek and tongue side walls of the tooth intact. It restores just the end walls and the biting surface of the tooth. In this way, the cheek side wall of the tooth remains untouched and a very natural appearance is maintained. This more limited approach to restoration preserves as much tooth structure as possible and leaves the gum-tooth contact surface unchanged and untouched.
The decision about what type of restoration will work best for you and your particular situation is one that your dentist will discuss with you before treatment begins. The choice to use gold, this most precious metal, is one way in which your dentist serves you with products that will give the best possible results.