Fillings. They are one of the most common dental procedures around, and most patients will find themselves in need of a filling at some point in their life.
In the past there were few choices for patients who needed a filling. Fillings were made from metal amalgam and were grey in colour, making them very noticeable, particularly if they were located near the front of your mouth.
While white fillings have been around for many years, they were traditionally considered less strong and durable than their metal amalgam counterparts, and were not considered suitable for the back teeth where the majority of chewing forces are exerted.
Over recent years, materials and technology around white fillings have advanced greatly and they are now considered practically as strong as metal amalgam fillings. They are made of composite resin material that is durable as well as natural-looking. At Wimbledon Dental Care we use the highest quality composites, including Heraues Venus and TPH Spectra, which are well-known for their strength, excellent performance and natural appearance. We have hundreds of happy patients who will testify to their quality.
It is perhaps more accurate to describe “white” fillings as “tooth-coloured” fillings, because your dentist is able to select a colour of composite that closely matches your natural teeth. That means they blend in perfectly, and nobody will notice they are there.
Often with metal amalgam fillings it is necessary to remove healthy tooth tissue as well as areas of decay to place the fillings. As dentists we don’t like to remove any more tissue than is absolutely necessary, which is why we are delighted that with our white filling technique only decayed areas are removed, making it a minimally-invasive procedure that is better for your dental health.
While we don’t believe in carrying out procedures for the sake of it, we know that many patients would like to replace their old, amalgam fillings with modern white ones. If your metal fillings are worn, discoloured or old, or if you want a more natural-looking smile, we’ll be happy to discuss replacing metal fillings with white composite fillings.