Green Mountain and the Belmar wellness corridor in Lakewood, CO have a particular kind of patient — the kind who reads ingredient labels at Natural Grocers, hikes William F. Hayden Park on weekends, and asks careful questions before booking any appointment. We see a lot of them.
Then they smile in the bathroom mirror and notice the silver fillings in their back teeth. Or the dark line at the gumline of an old crown. And they wonder — why is my mouth the one place I haven’t thought about ingredients?
A lot of our patients land here for that exact reason. They’ve spent years cleaning up everything else, and the metal in their mouth is the last thing on the list.
That’s where metal-free cosmetic dentistry Lakewood patients ask about comes in. Porcelain, zirconia, and composite materials replace amalgam and metal-based crowns with options that match natural teeth and skip the metal entirely.
The work isn’t rushed. Replacing old metalwork takes careful, multi-visit planning. Each tooth gets evaluated. Some need same-day crowns. Others need bonding. A few might be fine to leave alone for now. A consult sorts it out.
A nearby Green Mountain office makes the swap from metal to biocompatible easier to schedule. From central Green Mountain, the drive runs roughly 8 to 12 minutes via Alameda Parkway and Wadsworth. Whole-health consults run during weekday hours. We’ll walk you through what’s in your mouth before you decide what to change.
Why Lakewood Wellness Patients Are Replacing Old Metal Work
Most of our Green Mountain hikers and Belmar yoga regulars come in with the same set of concerns. They’re not anti-dentistry. They just want to know what’s actually in their mouth, and they want options that match the rest of their wellness choices.
A few of the most common reasons we hear:
- Old amalgam fillings that contain mercury bound to silver, tin, and copper
- Dark lines at the gumline of older porcelain-fused-to-metal crowns
- Metal taste or sensitivity to hot and cold drinks
- Cracked or leaking fillings from decades of expansion and contraction
- Aesthetic concerns about silver showing when laughing or yawning
Older fillings don’t last forever. Twenty or thirty years of chewing, temperature changes, and grinding wear them down. Eventually they crack, leak at the edges, and trap bacteria underneath. That’s when decay starts hiding where you can’t see it.
The FDA has issued specific recommendations for high-risk groups — pregnant women, nursing mothers, young children, and people with kidney or neurological conditions — to avoid new amalgam fillings when alternatives are appropriate. For most adults, the FDA does not recommend removing intact fillings just because they contain amalgam. But once a filling is cracked, leaking, or causing sensitivity, replacement opens the door to something better.
Worth noting: The FDA does not recommend removing intact amalgam fillings unless they’re failing or there’s decay underneath. Our consult focuses on which fillings actually need replacement — not a wholesale swap of everything in your mouth.
Biocompatible Materials Used in Place of Metal
Once you decide to replace something, the next question is what to use. The good news is the options today are far better than they were even ten years ago.
Porcelain crowns blend in with natural teeth and resist coffee, tea, and wine stains. They’re strong enough for most teeth and look completely natural in the front of the smile.
Zirconia is the workhorse for back molars and grinders. It’s stronger than older ceramics and resists chipping. The American Dental Association has a detailed overview of how zirconia and other ceramic materials compare if you want the technical breakdown.
Composite resin fillings bond directly to the tooth. No “shelf” needs to be drilled to hold them in place, which means more of your natural tooth stays intact.
Ceramic implants exist for patients who want to avoid all metal, even in the post that anchors a replacement tooth.
Each material trades off differently across strength, looks, and cost. A consult covers which fits each tooth — not a one-size answer for the whole mouth.
The Process of Swapping Old Fillings and Crowns
Replacing metalwork takes more thought than placing it the first time. Here’s what the process usually looks like.
Step 1 — Full evaluation. A thorough exam, often with 3D imaging, maps every old restoration in your mouth. We note which ones are intact, which are cracked, and which already have decay underneath.
Step 2 — Prioritize what actually needs replacing. Not every old filling needs to come out today. We focus on the ones that are failing, leaking, or causing sensitivity first.
Step 3 — Safe removal protocols. When amalgam comes out, we use isolation and air filtration to protect you from particles during removal. This isn’t optional in our office.
Step 4 — Place the new restoration. Tooth-colored bonding goes in for smaller fillings. A custom porcelain or zirconia crown goes on for larger restorations. Same-day CEREC crowns skip the temporary stage entirely for many teeth.
Step 5 — Comfort throughout. Ceiling-mounted Netflix, noise-canceling headphones, and nitrous oxide sedation are all available. Longer visits feel shorter when you’re distracted.
Most upgrades happen across two to three visits, spaced out so you’re not in the chair for hours at a time. Anxious patients can split treatment further if needed.
Pairing Metal-Free Care With Whole-Health Habits
Replacing fillings is one piece. The other piece is keeping the new work — and the rest of your mouth — healthy long-term.
A few habits that pair well with metal-free care:
- Daily flossing protects bonded edges from new decay
- Tongue scraping in the morning helps balance the oral microbiome
- Less sugar, more fiber supports the bacteria you want and starves the ones you don’t
- Routine cleanings every six months catch wear early before it spreads
- A nightguard for grinders protects new restorations from cracking
There’s also the airway connection. Mouth breathing dries out saliva, and saliva is your body’s natural defense against decay. If you snore, wake up with a dry mouth, or feel tired despite a full night’s sleep, that’s worth bringing up at your consult. Whole-health dentistry isn’t separate from sleep and breathing — they’re part of the same picture.
Stress and grinding go together too. High-pressure weeks at work often show up as cracked enamel by the weekend. A custom guard handles the grinding so your new restorations don’t have to.
Reaching Our Lakewood Office From Green Mountain and Belmar
The office sits on W Jefferson Ave near Highway 121, also known as S Wadsworth Blvd.
Most Green Mountain residents take Alameda Parkway east, then Wadsworth south. The drive runs roughly 8 to 12 minutes from central Green Mountain. Belmar shoppers can reach us in 7 to 10 minutes via Wadsworth south. US-6 access just north of the office works well for Edgewood and West Colfax patients.
Free surface parking sits right outside the door. No garage walk, no parking app, no meters.
Replacing old metalwork is staged work. A close office means easier scheduling for the careful, multi-visit process biocompatible swaps require. We’re open Monday through Thursday with morning and afternoon slots that fit busy professionals.
Balanced Dental Studio 7373 W Jefferson Ave STE 104, Lakewood, CO 80235 (303) 989-3192
FAQ
Do I need to replace all my old fillings at once?
No, replacement is staged based on which fillings show damage or sensitivity first. The FDA does not recommend removing intact fillings just because they contain metal.
How long is the drive from William F. Hayden Park / Green Mountain?
Most Green Mountain patients reach the office in 8–12 minutes via Alameda Parkway and Wadsworth. Free parking sits right outside the door.
Are biocompatible crowns as strong as metal ones?
Modern zirconia and porcelain match metal strength for almost every tooth, including molars. Zirconia in particular is built for back-of-mouth chewing forces.
Will my insurance cover replacing fillings that aren’t broken?
Coverage depends on your plan — purely cosmetic swaps usually aren’t covered, but our team checks your specific benefits before treatment starts.
Can I do this in one day with same-day crowns?
Many single-tooth swaps finish in one visit using CEREC same-day crowns. We scan, design, and mill the crown in-office while you wait.
Is amalgam removal safe?
Yes, when done with proper isolation and air filtration protocols, which we follow. Removing intact fillings does temporarily release more vapor, so we only recommend it when there’s a clear reason to replace.
