White Composite Fillings

White Composite Fillings

A composite or white filling serves as a filler for a tooth that has been affected by a defect, crack, or fracture. First, the affected part of the tooth is cleaned and defective and then a white filling is placed.
Along with Amalgam fillings, Composite (white) fillings are the most commonly used in dentistry. Because they match the color of your natural teeth, they are extremely good for parts of the tooth that are easily visible.
Like all other dental materials, white fillings are not eternal and must one day change. They are very solid, durable and will give you a long lasting and beautiful smile.

White seals are placed at:

– Broken teeth
– Bad teeth
– Worn teeth
– In some cases, a tooth fracture

How are composite fillings placed?

Composite fillings are usually placed in one appointment. While the tooth is numb, your dentist will remove decay as necessary. The space will then be thoroughly cleaned and carefully prepared before the new filling is placed. If the decay was near the nerve of the tooth, a special medication will be applied for added protection. The composite filling will then be precisely placed, shaped, and polished, restoring your tooth to its original shape and function.
It is normal to experience sensitivity to hot and cold when composite fillings are first placed, however this will subside shortly after your tooth acclimates to the new filling.
You will be given care instructions at the conclusion of your treatment. Good oral hygiene practices, eating habits, and regular dental visits will aid in the life of your new fillings.

Differences between Amalgam and Composite fillings:

There are several important differences between the two types of fillings. It’s not just the matter of appearance.


Advantages of white filling:

  1. Composite fillings restore the natural appearance of the tooth.
  2. Since they bond to the tooth composite fillings restore most of the original strength of the tooth. Silver fillings weaken the teeth making them more susceptible to breaking, because in time they may expand a little.
  3. In silver fillings there’s a chance of undetectable decay leading to silent destruction of the tooth structure until pain indicates the need of treatment. On the other hand in composite fillings the decay would be sometimes much more easily detected before the pain and expensive procedures start.
  4. Composites require less removal of tooth structure, especially with new cavities the size for the hole made for the filling can be much smaller with composites.
  5. Composite fillings are Mercury free fillings and therefore you are avoiding any possibilities of chronic mercury intoxication.
  6. With too many amalgam fillings in the mouth, there’s a chance that they form a minute electric current (different alloys make batteries) witch could affect the soft tissue of the mouth in a long term.
Consider that the principles of white seal have been present in dentistry for over 50 years with the constant development of materials and colors, which I think is quite enough time to inherit the gray ones.