If your teeth are filled with dark, gray, metal fillings you’ve got more to worry about than your appearance.

Metal amalgams can damage teeth.  They contain mercury which may have negative long-term effects. 

Tooth-colors composite fillings are a safer, stronger, more attractive and a more enduring alternative to metal.

What is a Filling?

A filling is a way to restore a tooth damaged by decay back to its normal function and shape. When our dentist gives you a filling, he or she first removes the decayed tooth material, cleans the affected area, and then fills the cleaned out cavity with a filling material.

By closing off spaces where bacteria can enter, a filling also helps prevent further decay.

Considerations for different materials include:

Composite resins are matched to be the same color as your teeth and therefore used where a natural appearance is desired. The ingredients are mixed and placed directly into the cavity, where they harden. Composites may not be the ideal material for large fillings as they may chip or wear over time. They can also become stained from coffee, tea or tobacco, and do not last as long as other types of fillings generally from three to 10 years.

Porcelain fillings are called inlays or onlays and are produced to order in a lab and then bonded to the tooth. They can be matched to the color of the tooth and resist staining. A porcelain restoration generally covers most of the tooth. Their cost is similar to gold.

Advantages of composites:

Aesthetics - the shade/color of the composite fillings can be closely matched to the color of existing teeth; is particularly well suited for use in front teeth or visible parts of teeth.