Do you have a cavity or two that needs filling in the near future? If so, you should research before settling on a filling type for your teeth. For a long time, amalgam, or silver fillings, were the standard treatment for cavities. Nowadays, however, more and more dentists are turning to white dental fillings instead.
White fillings are made from composite resin. They perfectly blend in better with the rest of your teeth than other fillings because they are white, and they will bear no silver reflections when you talk or laugh!
Most dentists use white fillings these days because they look more natural than silver fillings and are much safer, too.
But as a dental patient, you may wonder what the point of white fillings is aside from the apparent colour difference. As it turns out, quite a few good reasons point you to choose white fillings over silver ones, and we've listed five below.
1. You have cavities in your smile zone.
Your smile zone is the area from your canine teeth to your central incisors; this zone is what people see whenever you smile. If you have a cavity between your two central incisors, a white filling would mean you can smile without feeling self-conscious.
Composite fillings, or white fillings, have grown in popularity among patients and dentists for years. The main reason for this growth in popularity is their ability to blend in with your natural teeth.
Before applying the tooth-coloured resin to a cavity, your dentist will select an appropriate shade of white that matches the natural hue of your teeth.
2. You want to conceal dental work effectively.
The biggest downfall of amalgam fillings is that you can't hide them. If you wish to conceal your dental work, white fillings can help you achieve that. And because you can use white fillings immediately after getting them, you could head straight to your next appointment of the day without it being affected by the dental work you just had.
White dental fillings directly bond to the natural structure of your teeth, which requires minimal drilling before the placement of the filling.
3. You want to retain natural tooth structure.
As mentioned earlier, amalgam fillings require a little more drilling on the treated tooth before the filling can be placed.
Unlike white dental fillings, silver fillings cannot bond to the natural tooth structure, so dentists must create grooves or slots where the silver fillings are placed. The process requires the removal of some of your natural teeth. And since white fillings don't need this, you can preserve more of your natural tooth structure.
However, bear in mind that white fillings are more appropriate for small to mid-size cavities, especially where your molars are concerned. This is because silver fillings can take more chewing force and won't break as easily as white fillings.
4. You want a faster process of replacing dental fillings.
Applying white fillings may take longer because dentists must completely dry the area before placing the composite material. But the good thing is that replacing them is less complicated than replacing a silver filling.
For instance, when replacing a silver filling, a dentist must remove the entire filling before cleaning up the area and replacing it. This involves removing some of the natural tooth structure once again.
However, in the case of white fillings, a dentist needs only remove the damaged portion of the filling before filling in the space with composite resin.
5. You intend to whiten your teeth in the future.
If you are planning to whiten your teeth in future and want the whitest smile possible, you should first whiten your teeth and then replace any silver fillings with white ones. Doing this will allow your dentist to create a shade of composite resin that matches your newly-whitened teeth, giving you a whiter, more natural smile.
White fillings require the touch of an experienced and skilled dentist to be done to an aesthetically pleasing standard. If you prefer white fillings over silver fillings, what really matters is choosing a reputable dentist to carry out your treatment.
And of course, the most important thing is that you visit the dentist regularly and have proper checkups and cleaning, as well as keep up a daily dental routine of brushing and flossing.
Finesse Dental takes pride as a state-of-the-art dental clinic complete with a wide range of dental treatment and services, which includes the following:
- porcelain dental veneers
- white tooth filling
- full arch implants
- teeth straightening treatment
- orthodontic treatment
- laser teeth whitening
- dental implant surgery
- root canal treatment
- wisdom teeth removal
So, if you are looking for a dentist in Schofields, a dentist in North Kellyville, or a dentist in Marsden Park who can provide quality white tooth filling, head straight to Finesse Dental.
Schedule an appointment with us at Finesse Dental by visiting our booking page or contact us on (02) 8806 0790 to find out more.