White fillings are also known as composite fillings. Unlike the older metal amalgam fillings, white fillings are used to fix dental decay and match the rest of the tooth's color, so that there is no evidence of the white filling being in place.
Many people find white fillings very appealing for use on the front teeth, where metal amalgam fillings would be more noticeable. Also, some people choose to replace their older metal amalgam fillings with whiter fillings to give themselves a more attractive smile.
White fillings can be placed in just one visit to the cosmetic dentistry office. In order to place the white filling, the decayed portion of the tooth must be removed. Once the decayed portion of the tooth is removed, the cosmetic dentist will use a solution on the tooth to act as an abrasive, etching the tooth so that the white filling can be better bonded.
The bonding agent is then brushed onto the tooth, and the white filling composite is applied to the tooth in several layers. After the white filling material has been placed, the white filling is hardened and bonded to the tooth with a special, high-intensity light.
There are many reasons people prefer white fillings to traditional fillings. Not only are white fillings matched to your natural tooth color so that they cannot be noticed, but white fillings also:
- Are made of a composite to act like natural teeth by expanding and contracting when they get hot or cold.
- Require less of the natural tooth to be removed when they are placed.
- Restore tooth strength, whereas metal amalgam fillings weaken teeth when they are placed.
- Do not contain mercury, a toxic substance, like traditional fillings.
- Do not make teeth as sensitive to hot or cold temperatures.