White Fillings
Cosmetic Dentistry Directory
n the past, teeth were filled with metal amalgam when decayed tooth tissue had to be removed. Today, thanks to advances in dental materials and techniques, teeth can be filled with white dental composite which gives them a more pleasing and natural appearance. The exact shade of dental composite will be chosen by your cosmetic dentist to match your natural teeth.
White fillings can also replace old metal fillings. The old filling can be removed just as decayed tooth tissue is, and the dentist and his assistant will wear special protective clothing against the mercury vapor from the metal filling as its broken up.
Whether filling a new cavity or replacing an old amalgam filling, your cosmetic dentist will first prepare the tooth surfaces and then place the composite in layers, using a specialized light to harden each layer. The white filling will then be shaped to fit smoothly against opposing teeth, and polished to a white sheen.
Amalgam fillings vs white fillings
Holding all the advantages, white fillings:
- Are more attractive and natural looking;
- Are less sensitive to hot and cold than teeth restored with metal fillings;
- Do not contain mercury, which is considered by some to be toxic in a tooth filling;
- Require less tooth tissue to be removed;
- Can restore most of the original strength of the tooth, because they are bonded to that tooth and hold it together. In contrast, metal fillings weaken teeth by (a) continually expanding and contracting with hot and cold substances in the mouth; and (b) exerting pressure outwards from the interior of the tooth to its perimeter. They are packed tightly into the cavity, not bonded to the tooth.
Please visit our Frequently Asked White Fillings Questions page for more information on white fillings.
