Most adults require fillings at some point in their life. When a cavity forms, the dentist must place a filling in the cavity after treatment in order to ensure that the cavity does not get worse. Once decay has been removed, the tooth also has a hollow spot inside. This must be filled in with a filling in order to strengthen the tooth. Traditionally, fillings have been made from silver. While this is safe and reliable filling, however, it can be unsightly, especially for patients with more than one filling. Silver (amalgam) fillings can show when patients smile, laugh, or speak and some patients can feel very uncomfortable or embarrassed by their fillings.
An ideal solution is a white filling. White fillings are made of a durable composite resin. As their name suggests, white fillings are in fact matched to the tooth color, making the fillings virtually invisible. White fillings have long been available for front teeth. However, new breakthroughs in dentistry have created an even stronger composite resin that can be applied to the back teeth, where much of the chewing pressure takes place. The new white fillings are very durable, even when applied to the back teeth.
If you are considering white fillings, you should know that there are many reasons to choose this type of filling. White fillings are often chosen for cosmetic reasons. Many patients find that white fillings make their smiles look perfectly natural. With white fillings, you will look as though you have a naturally perfect smile. White fillings are also ideal for patients who have health concerns with most fillings. White fillings are mercury-free, which makes some patients feel safer. Finally, white fillings are ideal for those who have sensitive teeth. If your teeth are sensitive to heat or cold, white fillings can help reduce pain because composite resin does not conduct temperature changes as quickly as silver or gold fillings. Therefore, your teeth warm or cool more gradually, meaning less pain for you.
If these benefits have you considering white fillings, you should meet with a qualified Santa Monica dentist to learn whether these treatment options are right for you. Our professional team at West LA Dental has years of experience with white fillings, so contact one of our team members today to learn more. We can help you decide which fillings are right for you.