Tooth-Colored Fillings
WHITE DENTAL FILLINGS IN CEDAR RAPIDS
In the past, fillings for teeth were silver and made from amalgam. Not only are these fillings unattractive, but the mercury in the amalgam is now viewed as potentially toxic. For these reasons, tooth-colored white fillings are now the favorite choice in cosmetic dentists across the country. White fillings are made up of acrylic and various other particles and do not contain metals such as silver and mercury as the amalgam fillings do.
White fillings are made of composite resin and serve to fill cavities just like silver amalgam cavities. However, white fillings are matched to the color of your teeth and are virtually invisible. As the popularity and availability of white fillings have increased and the possible dangers of amalgam fillings have been publicized, more and more patients are having their cavities filled with beautifully white, natural-looking fillings.
Advantages of White Fillings
Since they bond to the tooth, composite fillings restore most of the original strength of the tooth. Silver weakens the tooth making it more susceptible to breaking. Since broken teeth are very expensive to restore, white fillings can save a lot of expense down the road.
- Composite fillings restore the natural appearance of the tooth.
- Teeth restored with white fillings are less sensitive to hot and cold than teeth restored with metal fillings.
- Composites are free of mercury, which is viewed by some as being toxic.
- Composite fillings require less removal of the tooth structure. The size of the hole made for the white filling can be much smaller than the hole for the silver filling.
- Secondary decay is easier to spot beneath white fillings.
- Composite fillings allow dentists to fix smaller cavities and there’s no more waiting for the cavity to get “big enough to fill.”
There is one caveat with white fillings: they can be seriously weakened by excessive alcohol consumption, so if you have a habit of drinking alcoholic beverages regularly, you may find that composite fillings deteriorate rather quickly. Be sure to tell your dentist about your alcohol consumption prior to getting white fillings.
Tooth-colored fillings are a safer and more attractive alternative to older silver amalgam fillings. By matching composite fillings to the natural color of your teeth, our trained cosmetic dentists can provide you with white fillings that are virtually invisible.
If you would like to learn more about tooth-colored white fillings, please call or email Dental Touch Associates today to schedule an appointment.
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This was one of the best experiences I’ve ever had at the dentist or doctor. I haven’t been to the dentist in 7 years, largely due to a bad experience. Haley (hygienist) was super knowledgeable, friendly, and answered all of my questions. She even helped me develop a plan to get my dental health where it needs to be in the future. Blaine (dentist) was friendly and knowledgeable as well! I highly recommend this office. I never thought I would be happy walking out of a dentist office. Thank You Dental Touch!
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