White Teeth Fillings
Often used in smile makeovers by our Acton dentists, these white fillings can change your smile for the better!
For a long time, amalgam fillings were the only option available when a cavity needed to be filled. They offered a very good degree of strength and functionality but also had the disadvantage of being very visible. This is obviously a problem if the filling is towards the front of the mouth, but darker fillings can also be seen on the rear teeth when we laugh or yawn, for example. Over the years, attempts were made to produce more natural looking fillings but early attempts at these produced filling materials that, while improving the appearance, were simply not strong enough for everyday use.
As with many areas of dental care, over the years, work has been done on this and white teeth fillings are now available which are suitable for use in the vast majority of situations where an amalgam filling would have been used in the past. Patients of the Acton Vale Dental Centre can now have cavities filled with a strong filling that blends in with their smile.
What are white fillings made from?
Whereas amalgam is made from a combination of metals, including the sometimes controversial mercury (more on that later), white tooth fillings are made from a composite of resins and fine particles of glass or ceramic. These are now suitable for most types of fillings and can also be used in other situations such as closing small gaps or reshaping uneven teeth. For today’s purpose though, we will focus on their use in filling teeth cavities.
Benefits of white fillings
We have touched on the first and most obvious of these. White fillings are much less visible than amalgam fillings and in most cases, will be unnoticeable by those around you. The beauty of these is that the colour can be adjusted to match the shade of your own natural teeth and is not just a ‘one shade fits all’ solution. This is perhaps the most obvious advantage of using this type of filling but it is far from being the only one.
Potentially less drilling
When a cavity is filled using amalgam, it isn’t just its visibility which is a potential issue for patients of our Acton dental practice. What few patients probably realise is that amalgam doesn’t really bond very well with the natural tooth. This means that any preparation involves removing additional natural tooth material to shape it so that the amalgam can be kept securely in place. For example, and to explain simply rather than anything that would actually happen; if you have a small perfectly square filling and filled it with amalgam, it would probably fall out. To avoid this, an additional section of the tooth would need to be removed to widen the bottom so that it couldn’t fall out. By using white fillings, this is avoided as the filling material bonds well to the natural tooth so more of your own tooth can be preserved.
Better bonding
Briefly mentioned above, the bonding abilities of a white filling have another advantage over amalgam in that amalgam will slowly shrink over time. The patient may not notice this and may be untroubled by it on the whole. The problem with this though is that it means that small gaps are often formed between the amalgam filling and the tooth. This provides a space for bacteria and tiny food particles to become trapped and further decay is likely to follow. The bonding properties of white fillings prevent this from happening and help to prevent further work being required on these teeth.
Repairable
If part of an amalgam filling breaks off in a way that threatens the tooth; in most cases, the amalgam will have to be largely removed and replaced. This again, is due to its lack of bonding ability. In most cases, white fillings can be repaired by adding new filling material to the old. This will depend on the situation of course but there is a good chance that you will only require minimal treatment for a damaged white tooth filling.
Less heat sensitive
Not everyone experiences this but some patients report that when consuming hot or cold food or drinks, their amalgam filled teeth feel more sensitive. This is probably due to the metals in the filling transmitting temperature to the root canals (although there could be damage too which needs to be checked by the dentist). Natural coloured tooth fillings are less sensitive to temperature changes and should provide a better level of comfort for you.
Mercury free
Finally, a sometimes controversial subject, but some patients feel uncomfortable having amalgam due to the mercury content in it. While this is a toxic ingredient, dental authorities have accepted its safety when used in filling material. There are also arguments against its use due to leakages into the natural environment. Generally speaking, there is a move away from amalgam and generations to come will very likely never have a tooth filled in this way.
As you can see, white teeth fillings have numerous advantages over amalgam ones. It is also flexible and can be used as part of a smile makeover treatment, possibly alongside orthodontics, veneers and even implants.
If you would like to talk to us about having your teeth filled in this way, or to discuss another dental issue or make an appointment booking, please call the Acton Vale Dental Centre today on 020 8749 3267.