White Fillings

As a person ages, it becomes more important to restore teeth with materials that add strength and function. As teeth get older, they become more brittle and susceptible to recurrent decay and fracture- especially around amalgam fillings. When this occurs, root canal or even extraction can become necessary. So there is a real need for a restoration that adds strength- such as a bonded composite.

They may cost more, but they are worth the expense.  Because composite restorations are bonded, they may take a few minutes more to place, and usually cost a little more. Insurance companies often will not pay this extra expense. But bonded composite restorations may offer a better treatment alternative than amalgam.

White Fillings look good, but they can offer so much more. Composite restorations are held in place by advanced bonding agents that integrally join them to tooth structure. Not only do these bonding agents form a strong, reinforcing bridge between the composite and the tooth, they also seal the cut tooth surface. Bonding makes the filling an integral part of the tooth. This is quite different from old-fashioned silver amalgam restorations.

According to one major dental materials textbook: “because amalgams do not bond to tooth structure, the strength of the clinical crown is not restored to the level of the sound tooth.” Bonded composites, on the other hand, help restore teeth to soundness.