The main reason that people opt to have natural coloured dental fillings is for appearance. This makes sense as the traditional amalgam fillings are very visible, especially on the teeth that people see when we smile. Appearance is only part of the story though.
Modern tooth-coloured fillings have become increasingly popular over the years at the Smile Dental Practice Croydon for a number of other reasons, and in many situations they offer practical advantages as well as aesthetic ones. They are not always the right answer for every tooth, but they have changed the way many everyday fillings are carried out.
White fillings are designed to match the colour of your own teeth as closely as possible. Once they have been shaped and polished, they are often difficult to spot unless you know exactly where they are. For patients who feel self-conscious about showing darker coloured fillings when they laugh or speak, this alone can make a real difference.
It is also worth remembering that many fillings are not placed because someone has developed a large cavity. Quite often they are used on a small area of tooth decay before it has the chance to become something more serious. In those cases, a discreet restoration is usually all that is needed.
One of the biggest practical differences between white fillings and traditional amalgam is the way they are fixed into place. Unlike amalgam, teeth coloured fillings bond directly to the remaining natural tooth. This means that the filling and the tooth work together rather than simply relying on the filling being tightly packed into the space as is the case with traditional dental filling materials. This enables our Croydon dental team to preserve more of the healthy tooth during the treatment.
Traditionally, cavities were prepared in a particular way to help hold an amalgam filling securely in place. Sometimes this meant removing small amounts of healthy tooth alongside the decay to create the right shape. Tooth coloured fillings don't usually require the same type of preparation because they are bonded directly to the tooth. The aim is still to remove the decay completely, but there is often no need to remove additional healthy tissue simply to help retain the filling. This fits in well with the modern dental approach of treating as conservatively as possible.
Teeth naturally expand and contract very slightly as they warm up and cool down, and so do different types of flying materials. Amalgam especially, is known to do this and this can lead to an increase in risk of the filling cracking or breaking. Teeth coloured fillings react more closely to more natural tooth fillings and are therefore at less risk of this.
Over time, amalgam can also shrink a little and this can leave gaps between the filling and the natural tooth. These may be tiny and not visible to the patient but are still large enough for bacteria to become trapped in. This is likely to lead to further decay which will need treating.
No filling lasts forever. Whatever the type of filling used, there may come a time when it needs attention.One advantage of white teeth fillings is that smaller defects can sometimes be repaired without replacing the entire filling.
If the restoration is otherwise in good condition, your dentist may be able to add fresh white filling material to the existing one rather than starting again as they bond so well together. It may not always be possible, but when it is, it can help to preserve more of the natural tooth.
White fillings were once mainly associated with front teeth due to having lesser strength than amalgam, making them unsuitable for rear teeth which are mainly used for chewing. With the improvements in quality made over the years though, this gap has largely been addressed and white fillings can often be used even on the rear teeth. Where the damage is significant though, it may be decided that other options, such as amalgam fillings or inlays or onlays might be more appropriate. Our popular Croydon dentists will always recommend the option that offers the best long-term outcome rather than simply the most attractive one.
White fillings do not need special care. Looking after them is really no different from looking after your natural teeth. Brushing twice a day with fluoride toothpaste, cleaning between the teeth and attending regular dental examinations all help to keep both the fillings and the surrounding tooth healthy.
It is also worth remembering that while composite fillings themselves cannot decay, the tooth around them certainly can so good oral care is needed just as much on these teeth are regular ones.
Aesthetically, yes, but for practical purposes, this may not always be the case. Dentistry is rarely a case of one material being perfect for every patient. The size of the cavity, its location, your bite, the condition of the tooth and even habits such as tooth grinding may all influence which restoration is recommended.
Sometimes a white filling is the obvious choice, while at other times, another filling or a dental crown may provide a more appropriate solution. This is why we treat every patient of the Smile Dental Practice as an individual. If you would like to find out more about white coloured teeth fillings or to discuss any practical or aesthetic aspect of your dental care with us, why not make an appointment to see one of our friendly dental team.
You can do this by calling us today on 020 8649 7911.
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