Young woman with beautiful white fillings visiting dentist

It’s never fun to hear the words, “You have a cavity,” from your dentist, but it’s not the end of the world. While some people coast through life without ever needing a dental filling, you will more than likely receive this bad news from your dentist at least once in your lifetime. Out of every 10 Americans over the age of 35, at least nine have had a cavity repaired. Thanks to gentle techniques and aesthetically pleasing composite resin, cavity repair has never been easier or more natural looking.

Silver amalgam was the material of choice for decades, but now dentists offer composite resin fillings, also known as white fillings, as a safer and more attractive restoration. Outlined below are some of the reasons why white fillings provide a better alternative.

Our dentists at Metropolitan Dental Care use state-of-the-art technology and the latest techniques to help patients maintain a healthy and beautiful smile. If you are concerned that you may have a cavity, and you’d like to learn more about white fillings, please schedule a consultation today at our Denver or Lone Tree dental office by calling 303.534.2626.

White Fillings Preserve Natural Aesthetics

Compared to amalgam or gold fillings, white fillings are more pleasing to the eye and will let you smile with confidence. We will shade-match composite resin to blend with your natural enamel so your white fillings will look natural. In addition, composite resin will not alter surrounding tooth enamel over time. Silver amalgam fillings, however, can eventually tint adjacent tooth enamel to a light gray hue, making filled teeth look stained.

Maintain More of Your Natural Tooth Structure

During the dental filling procedure, the dentist will remove decayed tissue to prevent bacteria from spreading and penetrating underlying layers of the tooth. Silver amalgam fillings require more enamel removal, which can weaken remaining tooth structure, in some cases. When a tooth is prepared for a composite resin filling, only minimal enamel is removed, allowing the tooth to maintain maximum structural integrity and strength.

Resilient and Safe Results

Composite resin consists of a combination of non-toxic plastic and ceramic, for durable and safe fillings. Because silver amalgam is a metal alloy mixture, it places anyone with a metal allergy at risk. This metal alloy also contains the heavy metal mercury, a material that has in recent years been proven to cause systemic issues in some people. Another disadvantage to amalgam is its inability to maintain structural consistency during temperature changes. When consuming hot or cold foods, the amalgam can expand and contract, which may result in small cracks in tooth enamel. These cracks could increase your risk for needing a dental crown or other dental work later in life.

Composite resin can withstand temperature changes and restore complete dental function to your smile. By following a good oral hygiene regimen at home, you can extend the longevity of both your natural teeth and white fillings.

Restore Your Smile with White Fillings

Choosing to repair your teeth with white fillings will not only preserve the aesthetics of your smile, but will also help protect your long-term oral health. Please contact our Denver or Lone Tree dental office today to schedule your appointment. Simply fill out our online form or give us a call at 303.534.2626.