Dental White Fillings

Recent advances in dental techniques and materials have increasingly introduced new ways of creating more natural looking and pleasant smiles. Aesthetically attractive materials including plastic and ceramic are being used to give white fillings that mimic the look of natural teeth.

Composite resin fillings or dental white fillings are a great way of hiding proof of ever having cavities in the first place. These fillings are essentially designed for aesthetic dental restoration, and they serve to restore and maintain the natural function of teeth.

Advantages of White Filings

Besides filling dental cavities and root canals, white fillings can be used to restore chipped, broken or worn down teeth. In comparison to the traditional amalgam (black) fillings, white fillings provide the patient several substantial benefits, such as:       

Reduced sensitivity

Since metal is a thermo-conductor, patients with black fillings might experience a sensitive reaction to cold or hot foods and beverages. White fillings usually cause no problem with sensitivity.

Colour matching

White fillings are usually formulated to mimic the natural colour and luster of your natural teeth. This makes the camouflaged fillings virtually unrecognizable to the naked eye.

Increased support

White fillings are usually placed with minimal removal of tooth structure. Moreover, the filings are chemically bonded to the tooth, and therefore provide increased support.

100% metal-free

White fillings are made from a 100% metal-free mixture, and therefore contain no harmful metal such as mercury. In addition, they can be shaped to follow the contours of natural teeth.

Summary

With such benefits, it’s no surprise that white tooth fillings are catching on as the preferred modern alternative to amalgam fillings (also called mercury or silver fillings). One of the most obvious reasons is the fact that the amalgam fillings usually look quite unsightly. Their dark silver colour can draw unnecessary attention, and leave a clear mark that you have had a filling procedure done.

Moreover, amalgam fillings often require the drilling into healthy tooth areas to fit them into the cavity. However, the filling might not fill the cavity completely. This leaves room for further delay, and may eventually lead to more dental problems.

On the other hand, white fillings are virtually unnoticeable, being able to blend well with natural teeth. So when you get a dental filling, no one else needs to know about it. Additionally, white fillings are usually placed in a way that they leave no space for decay to form underneath the filling.

However, this doesn’t mean that the tooth will be invulnerable to decay. If you don’t look after your teeth, decay can damage the structure of healthy teeth. If you suffer from a toothache, regardless of whether it’s severe or mild, you should consult your dentist.

White Filling Procedure

First, for white filling procedure, the area that needs to be treated is cleaned. Any decay is cleaned out of the tooth, and then the composite material is placed. Ultra-violet light is usually used to harden the composite material, thereby giving the tooth a natural feel.

In case the decay is bad and much of tooth structure has to be removed in the process, the dentist might recommend a dental crown. The aim is to strengthen and protect your tooth since placing a large filling might weaken the tooth structurally, and therefore pronto breaking or cracking. The dental crown will ensure that the tooth remains healthier longer.