White Fillings Questions
Cosmetic Dentistry Directory
What are white fillings?
White fillings are made of dental bonding (also called dental composite or dental resin). They are an alternative to the traditional metal amalgam fillings. Because they are white, they can be made to match your natural tooth color. If you already have metal fillings, you can get them replaced with white fillings.
What is dental bonding?
It's a soft, malleable white substance that looks and acts like putty. It comes in a range of white shades, so that one can be chosen to match your natural teeth.
How are white fillings done?
Filling a cavity with dental bonding can be done in one visit. Your cosmetic dentist will carefully place small amounts in until the surface of the tooth is back to what it was before you developed any decay. Fine-tuning is done to make sure your upper and lower teeth meet smoothly when you close your mouth. When you and your dentist are satisfied, a curing light is shone to harden the bonding. Now it will no longer be like putty, but like tooth enamel.
Will the white filling stay white?
The pigmented substances that will stain your teeth will also stain the dental bonding. So good dental hygiene will help keep it white.
What are the advantages of white fillings over metal fillings?
White fillings match the color of your natural teeth and therefore don't announce that you've had fillings done. They blend in nicely with your tooth enamel color.
- White fillings do not contain mercury, thought by many to be a threat to general health when in the mouth for years.
- White fillings strengthen the tooth because they are bonded to it rather than being packed tightly into the cavity. They become a part of that tooth and hold it together from within. Metal fillings are not bonded. They are held in place by the shape of the cavity, which therefore must be drilled out more and made the right shape. This removes more healthy tooth tissue than is necessary, and this is one way a metal filling weakens the tooth. Another way it does so is by continually expanding and contracting in response to the hot and cold substances we put in our mouths. The third way it weakens the tooth is by exerting pressure outwards on the tooth's edges, being tightly packed into the interior of the tooth.
- White fillings are less sensitive than metal fillings because they do not conduct heat and cold.
How do white composite fillings compare to porcelain fillings?
They can be done in one visit, as opposed to two. They will not last as long, being a softer substance than porcelain. They don't resemble tooth enamel as closely, although they do blend in well when the shade of white is well-matched to your natural teeth. They cost less than porcelain restorations.
Do I need white fillings?
If you need a filling or are just unhappy with your old metal fillings, white fillings are an attractive and functional option. Make an appointment with an experienced cosmetic dentist to see if white fillings are right for you.
