White Composite Fillings

It was commonly referred to as silver fillings, and was the most common type of dental filling used in the past. Silver fillings generally require more healthy parts of the tooth to be removed. This is to make up a space large enough to hold the filling. The aesthetic drawback is apparent! Also, it tends to grow and contract with heat, causing teeth to crack. Amalgam is an alloy made of mercury, silver, copper, tin, and usually a bit of zinc.

Composite resin is a filling material formulated to resemble the color of your natural teeth, so you can talk, laugh, or smile confidently. Composite resin contains of glass or quartz filler add up to a resin medium, which produces a tooth-colored filling. This plastic and glass mixture has no metal and can be shaped to resemble a natural tooth. Composite dental fillings are also used to repair broken or chipped teeth. They are more expensive than amalgam fillings because placing a tooth-colored dental filling is a bit more complicated than a silver filling and requires more time and work on the dentist’s part. Compared to amalgam, they are less durable.

Gold fillings are more durable but much more expensive than most other fillings. They usually last up to 35 years if proper hygiene is practiced. A gold cavity filling requires up to two dental office visits, unlike different dental fillings, which usually can be done in one office visit.

Usually made of porcelain, ceramic fillings are another tooth-colored dental filling similar to composite resin fillings. Since they are made of porcelain, they are more resistant to staining. They are chemically attached to natural teeth, which can even strengthen them, and may last for over 15 years.

They are similar to tooth-colored fillings, except they are made in a dental laboratory and require two visits before being placed. Onlays & Inlays are more substantial, longer-lasting, and visually appealing alternatives to a traditional dental filling. They use it when not enough tooth structure remains to support a filling, but the tooth is not severely damaged and needs a crown.

They are used for specific filling procedures that require more than one appointment, such as gold and indirect fillings that use composite materials. They can also be used after a root canal or if emergency dental treatment is needed to relieve a toothache. They are not meant to last and normally fall out, fracture, or wear out within a month. If the temporary filling is not replaced with a permanent one, the tooth could become infected, or you could have other complications. So be sure to call us to get it replaced with a permanent filling.