Fillings:

A dental filling is a restorative dental treatment material used to restore the function, integrity and morphology of missing tooth structure. The structural loss typically results from caries or external trauma. It is also lost intentionally during tooth preparation to improve the aesthetics or the physical integrity of the intended restorative material. The process of preparation usually involves cutting the tooth with special dental burrs, to make space for the planned restorative materials, and to remove any dental decay or portions of the tooth that are structurally unsound.

What are composite - white dental fillings?

A composite filling is a tooth-coloured (white) plastic used to restore decayed teeth. Composites are also used in cosmetic dentistry for cosmetic improvements of the smile by changing the colour of the teeth or reshaping disfigured teeth.

Following preparation, the dentist places the composite in layers, typically using a light specialized to harden each layer. When the process is finished, the dentist will shape the composite to fit the tooth.

Aesthetics are the main advantage of composites, since dentists can blend shades to create a colour nearly identical to that of the actual tooth. Another advantage of composites is that unlike Amalgam (silver coloured fillings ), composites do not contain any heavy metal( mercury) .

Disadvantages of the composites are that the shade of the composite can change slightly if the patient drinks tea, coffee or other staining foods over long period of time. Composites tend to wear out sooner than silver fillings in larger cavities, although they hold up as well in small to medium size cavities.

It generally takes longer to place a composite restoration than it does for a metal filling. That's because composite fillings require the tooth be kept clean and dry while the cavity is being filled. Tooth-coloured composites are now used more often than amalgam probably due to cosmetics. In a society focused on a white, bright smile, people tend to want fillings that blend with the natural colour of their teeth.

Is it worth replacing my amalgam fillings with white ones?

It is usually best to change fillings only when your dentist decides that an old filling needs replacing. When this happens you can ask to have it replaced with a tooth-coloured filling.

Some dentists prefer not to put white fillings in back teeth as they are not always successful. One way around this would be to use crowns or inlays, but this can be more expensive.

If you need to have a white fillings or other dental treatments and looking for Worthing dentists which can provide you with the high quality cosmetic white fillings please do not hesitate to contact our practice in Worthing town center.