Restorations
Composite fillings, also known as “white fillings”
Composite fillings are made from a special dental resin material which is tooth coloured, used to fill cavities in teeth and repair fractured edges. The material is shaped to mimic natural tooth, and comes in a variety of tooth coloured shades, formulated to blend in perfectly with tooth structure.
The main benefits of composite fillings over traditional amalgam include:
- Excellent aesthetic outcome mimicking natural tooth colour and appearance.
- The material bonds to tooth structure chemically and therefore strengthening the tooth by pulling the walls of the cavity together, as oppose to amalgam fillings which is retained by undercuts only and therefore can place excessive strain on the tooth walls and may cause the tooth to fracture, as we’ve seen from experience.
- Strong and durable.
Amalgam fillings, also known as “silver fillings”
Amalgam fillings are made of a metal alloy that is used to form a strong and durable filling material. Mainly used to treat cavities in back teeth. It is widely used in the UK and has a long history.
The main advantages of amalgam fillings:
- Strong and durable.
- Quicker to place than composite fillings.
- They are less costly than the alternatives.