White Fillings

Composite resin fillings are tooth-coloured restorations often used to replace amalgam (silver) fillings. These restorations are bonded to the surrounding tooth material making them suitable for both front and back teeth.

Do dental fillings make your tooth look better or worse?

Tooth decay is one of the most common dental ailments in the world. There was a time not too long ago that if a dentist were to detect cavities in your tooth at an early stage, he would clean the decayed site and cover it with either gold or amalgam fillings.

Modern advancements in dental material science have made it possible for patients to enjoy more aesthetically pleasing options that include tooth coloured or white restoratives.

White fillings are preferred for their appearance that resembles natural teeth. The composite materials used in today’s tooth-coloured fillings also offer superior strength compared to earlier versions. You can expect better bonding properties that hold firmly to your existing tooth structure and a more direct procedure.

Face Value Dental offers white fillings both as an option for restoring your tooth following cavity removal as well as the aesthetic choice for replacing your amalgam fillings. Many people have replaced their amalgam fillings with the new restoratives simply out of health concerns. Despite its extremely low mercury exposure, amalgam fillings have been known to pose a health safety risk.

Whether you are looking for tooth-coloured fillings that look bright and natural or wish to replace your existing amalgam fillings, Face Value Dental has what you need. Contact us at (07) 3221 0677 for more information.

Do you need to get rid of your old fillings?

If you’ve had fillings done many years ago, they are most likely amalgam fillings. Made from an alloy that contains mercury, silver, tin and copper, Amalgam fillings are historically the restorative material of choice for treating cavities. Considered to be durable and effective for most surfaces, these metal fillings are also adversely known for their unattractive appearance – their contrasting dark colours unwittingly draw attention to the restored tooth.

Composed of more than 50% mercury in terms of weighted content, they also pose a health concern. The mercury ingredient in amalgam fillings is considered potentially toxic.

The cumulative impact of mercury exposure over time is shrouded in controversy. Although the mercury vapours released by amalgam fillings are in extremely small quantities, it doesn’t negate other well-documented studies that show its harmful effects on human health due to long-term exposure – known to be more dangerous than the mercury that occurs naturally in food.¹ The toxic substance turns to vapour at body temperature and may be released through daily activities such as chewing, tooth brushing and the consumption of hot beverages.¹

Studies further suggests a link between the mercury ingredient in amalgam fillings with autoimmune disorders like multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer's disease and thyroid problems as well as other serious medical conditions like kidney dysfunction, infertility, polycystic ovary syndrome and paresthesias.²

It should be noted that while amalgams actually contain higher mercury content as compared to silver, they are often referred to as silver fillings.

In the past, amalgam fillings were prized for their durability and strength to the extent that many overlook the appearance factor. With the advent of white composites, the general public now finds a suitable alternative that is able to withstand the high stress demands that previously only gold and amalgam fillings were able to cope with. Since white fillings are virtually undetectable in your mouth, they also make an obvious choice for aesthetic reasons.

If you have an old amalgam filling that is overdue for replacement, why not consider the durable and aesthetically pleasing option that white fillings offer? It is also the least costly alternative to getting rid of mercury-related health risks altogether.

Benefits of White Fillings

Although white composite fillings represent the most aesthetic method for treating cavities, not every dentist has the necessary skills to perform the procedure. Nevertheless, patients should strongly consider this technologically advanced procedure as it offers many benefits over traditional metal fillings.

The major advantage of white fillings is the aesthetic finish of the restoration. Unlike materials like gold or amalgam, white fillings are available in a plethora of shades to closely match the shade of the tooth that needs to be restored. That means your restored tooth will blend seamlessly with the rest of your natural teeth.

Another important benefit lies in the direct bonding method used to place white fillings. When placing an amalgam filling, the dentist adheres the material to the tooth structure using mechanical retentive properties of the preparation. For white fillings, a bonding agent is used instead. That makes direct bonding between the tooth and restoration possible. It also greatly reduces the amount of tooth reduction required at the preparation stage. As such, the strength of the existing tooth being restored is better preserved, as compared to amalgam placements.

While initial versions of tooth-coloured filling materials had problems like sensitivity in the restored tooth – caused by the etching process – and marginal leakage between the tooth and the restorative material, newer composite materials have upped their quality, eliminating both the etching requirements and negating leakage issues. These improvements have resulted in minimally invasive procedures for patients as well as significant reductions in tooth sensitivity.

Affording better strength, straightforward treatments and improved aesthetics, white fillings are gradually becoming the preferred option for treating cavities.

Face Value Dental offers this amazing dental filling technology to enhance your cavity treatment and replace your existing amalgams. Call 07 3221 0677 to book an appointment today.

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References

1. Riley, R. "Side Effects of Mercury Fillings." Ezinearticles. August 16, 2010. http://ezinearticles.com/?Side-Effects-of-Mercury-Fillings&id=4870962.
2. Jardine, C. "Are your mercury fillings safe?" The Telegraph. February 13, 2001. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/health/news/4705442/Are-your-mercury-fillings-safe.html.