white fillings and tooth-coloured fillings

Traditional black or silver fillings, practical and effective though they are, have one distinct disadvantage: they're not exactly easy on the eye. In fact, at a glance, it's difficult to tell the difference between a traditional filling and the rotten cavity it has replaced.

White fillings and tooth-coloured fillings are as practical and as effective as traditional black and silver fillings but are virtually impossible to distinguish from the surrounding, healthy teeth. Take a look at the 'before and after' picture further down this page for hard evidence of just how difficult-to-spot white fillings can be.

The Advantages

The advantages of white fillings aren't just aesthetic in nature. Because white fillings are bonded to the tooth, less destructive preparation is required prior to filling the tooth. This means, less drilling and more of the healthy dental material is saved. And, because white fillings are bonded rather than 'packed in', there is a greatly reduced chance of stress fractures occurring in the filled tooth.

Plus, white filling and tooth-coloured filling materials can also be used for 'cosmetic bonding'. This is when small amounts of material, carefully matched to the colour and tone of the original tooth, are used to modify the appearance of an imperfect tooth. This can even be achieved in a single visit to our Liverpool dental surgery.

What are white fillings made of?

Since white fillings were first created, many years ago, they have evolved dramatically, keeping pace with the demands of modern dentistry. Modern white tooth-filling materials are flexible, hardy and aesthetically pleasing.

Typical white filling and tooth-coloured filling materials include:

Composite - This a tough and robust material that has the added advantage of being available in a wide range of shades, each perfectly matched to a particular tooth-colour type. Composite is probably one of the most popular tooth-filling materials used in dentistry today.

Glass ionomer - This material is particularly popular for deep fillings (into the root area) and children's fillings, as it contains fluoride which is absorbed into the tooth under repair, with obvious benefits. However, it doesn't have the general-purpose flexibility of composite and is limited in terms of shades and aesthetics.

Porcelain - Porcelain fillings, also known as inlays, are renowned for being especially damage-resistant. This makes porcelain fillings particularly effective for dealing with larger cavities and cavities in the 'labour-intensive' back teeth.

Are there any disadvantages to white fillings and tooth-coloured fillings?

It's almost entirely good news. The only negative is that, in some situations, it simply isn't practical to use a white filling. Especially large fillings or fillings situated very close to the gum line aren't suited to white fillings. Very large fillings are prone to extremes of wear and tear, making them unsuitable. Fillings close to the gum line are inadvisable as there is an increased presence of moisture and this can interfere with the bonding process.

As with all matters pertaining to your dental wellbeing, it is always best to speak to one of our highly-trained team members.