White Dental Fillings
We Offer Metal-Free Restorations
If you want the option of modern, state-of-the-art restorations that are natural looking, contain no metals, and can actually strengthen your teeth, give us a call today!
Replace Metal Fillings With
Mercury Free
Tooth-Colored Composite Fillings
For years, silver amalgam was the standard filling material used in dental practices. While amalgams are a prefectly reasonable restoration choice, they can have certain shortcomings. Metal fillings do not bond to the tooth and can actually mask decay in x-rays.
Teeth with large metal fillings in them can also develop cracks over time due to the expansion and contraction of the mercury. Left untreated, these cracks get larger and can eventually require root canal treatment. Replacing metal fillings with tooth-colored composite fillings that form a stronger bond to the tooth can dramatically decrease tooth cracking, the chances for decay, and the need for possible root canal treatment.
TYPES OF FILLING MATERIALS
And Their Pros And Cons
Amalgam (Silver) Fillings
Usually referred to as silver fillings, it was the most common type of dental filling used in the past. Silver fillings usually require more healthy parts of the tooth be removed to make a space large enough to hold the filling, and the aesthetic drawback is pretty obvious! Also, it tends to expand and contract with heat, causing teeth to crack. Amalgam is an alloy made of mercury, silver, copper, tin and usually a small amount of zinc.
Composite Resin (Tooth Colored) Fillings
Composite resin is a filling material formulated to resemble the color of your natural tooth, so you can talk, laugh, or smile with confidence. Composite resin consists of glass or quartz filler added to a resin medium, which produces a tooth-colored filling. This plastic and glass mixture contains no metal and can be shaped to resemble a real tooth. Composite dental fillings are also used to repair a chipped tooth, broken tooth or worn down teeth. They are more expensive then amalgam fillings because the procedure for placing tooth colored dental filling is a bit more complicated than it is for an sliver filling and requires more time and work on the dentist’s part. They are less durable then amalgam.
Cast Gold Fillings
Gold fillings are more durable, but are lot more expensive then most other types of fillings. They typically last up to 35 years if proper hygiene is practiced. A gold cavity filling requires up to two dental office visits to place unlike other types of dental fillings which usually can be done in one office visit.
Ceramic Fillings (Tooth Colored)
Usually made of porcelain, Ceramic Fillings is another tooth-colored dental filling similar to composite resin fillings. Since they are made from porcelain, it makes them more resistant to stains. They are chemically bonded to natural teeth which can even strengthen them and may last for over 15 years.
Onlays & Inlays Fillings
are similar to tooth-colored fillings except they are made in a dental laboratory and require two visits before being placed. Onlays & Inlays are stronger, longer-lasting, and visually appealing alternative to traditional dental filling. They are used when not enough tooth structure remains to support a filling but the tooth is not so severely damaged that it needs a crown.
Temporary Fillings
Are used for certain filling procedures that require more then one appointment, such as gold and indirect fillings that use composite materials. They can also be used following a root canal or if emergency dental treatment is needed to relive a toothache. They are not meant to last and usually fall out, fracture, or wear out within a month. If the temporary filling is not replaced with a permanent one, the tooth could become infected or you could have other complications. So be sure to contact us to get it replaced with a permanent filling.
You deserve a smile that looks better and more natural without all the metal!
Call (770) 271-4411 today!
Metal vs. Composite
Cavity Before & After
Composite Bonding
Typically Takes Just One Dental Visit
Cavity Procedure is Relatively Simple and Painfree
After Care:
- Follow good oral hygiene by brushing with a fluoride toothpaste, flossing and using an antibacterial mouthwash at least once daily
- Visit our Dental Office every 6 months for dental checkup and cleanings
FAQs
Most dental insurance cover the cost up to the price of the silver filling. The patient has to pay the difference in this case.
Tooth sensitivity to pressure, air, sweet foods, or temperature is fairly common. And the sensitivity typically resolves on its own within a few weeks. So you should avoid those things that are causing the sensitivity for the first few weeks. Please contact our Buford Dental Office if the sensitivity does not subside within two to four weeks or if your tooth is extremely sensitive. If you experience pain when you bite, the filling may be interfering with your bite. You will need to return to our dental office to have the filling reshaped.