Comparison of Composite White Fillings and Silver/Amalgam Fillings. Tooth decay treatment in Rockville.

Composite White Fillings

Destruction of the tooth enamel or tooth decay can often be seen as black spots on the tooth surface which are called cavities or caries. Cavities will be identified during a routine exam and teeth cleaning at our Rockville dental office. Treatment of the cavity involves the removal of the decayed portion of the tooth using a special drill. Care is taken to remove all of the tooth decay, but also retain as much of the remaining natural tooth structure as possible. In order to retain the structure and function of the tooth, the removed portion must be replaced with a type of dental filling medium. This is commonly called a “tooth filling”. There are two types of fillings commonly used; composite white fillings and amalgam fillings.

Benefits of Silver Amalgam Fillings

Amalgam fillings are often referred to as “silver fillings” due to the silver appearance in the mouth. This type of filling has been used for many years and typically contains small amounts of mercury. This mercury may be a concern to some patients as it may be viewed as having potential toxicity. Although silver fillings are a very strong material, the filling may weaken the surrounding tooth structure making it more susceptible to breakage. Broken teeth can be quite painful and may require a time consuming and costly procedure to fix. A benefit of amalgam fillings is that they may be easier to place and therefore be lest costly than a composite white filling. For this reason, the full cost of an amalgam filling is more frequently covered by health insurance.

Benefits of Composite White Fillings

Composite white fillings are resin fillings that come in natural tooth-colored shades.

The natural appearance of composite white fillings make them more desirable for many patients. The fact that they are mercury free is also viewed as desirable by many patients. Composite white fillings typically require the removal of a smaller portion of the tooth when compared to amalgam fillings. This allows for a larger part of the natural tooth to be retained and may help to keep a stronger tooth structure which has greater resistance to breakage. The resin material requires that the filling site be kept completely clean and dry for the entire filling procedure. This can be difficult when the cavity is in the very back of the mouth. Keeping the area dry can be uncomfortable for some patients as it requires the use of a tight shielding material to isolate the tooth and cavity site as well as a suction device to remove saliva from surrounding areas. A silver amalgam filling does not require this strict isolation of the tooth. Since composite white fillings bond to the tooth, they restore most of the original strength of the tooth. They are quite durable and typically resist fracture in small-to-mid size filling restoration. However, it generally takes longer to place a composite white filling than an amalgam filling. Composite fillings may take about 60% longer to place than an amalgam filling and require special expertise and expensive materials. Dental insurance companies may not pick up this extra cost. Although they have a natural appearance, composite white fillings can become stained or discolored over time with natural wear. A benefit of teeth restored with composite fillings is that they are less sensitive to hot and cold than teeth restored with amalgam, if correct techniques are used.

If it is necessary to have a filling procedure performed, a dentist at our Rockville office will review all types of filling options with you.

If you have further questions about composite white fillings contact our office for an appointment.

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Your Dentist 7508 Wisconsin ave. Bethesda MD 20814 tel: 301-760-4550