Until recently silver amalgam was the material most often used to restore decayed portions of your teeth, especially back teeth where most traditional fillings are placed. Unfortunately, traditional silver fillings can really darken a smile, and amalgam, by its nature, can cause damage to your tooth in the long run.

Amalgam fillings absorb moisture and expand and contract with heat and cold. So, as the filling ages, it can fracture your tooth. Also, silver fillings often undergo metal fatigue, corroding and leaking over time. This destroys the protective seal of the filling and allows new decay to develop underneath it. This leakage can give a gray appearance to the entire tooth.

Dental research has resulted in the development of new tooth-colored materials that are not only durable and long lasting, but attractive as well. These materials, porcelain and composite resin, provide an attractive, natural look while at the same time restoring strength and durability to your tooth.

Both porcelain and composite resin are bonded directly to the tooth, restoring it to near its original strength and function. Both can be custom-colored to precisely match your teeth, so when porcelain or resin fillings are placed, they’re extremely natural looking. This can really make a difference in your appearance, especially if the restoration is visible when you smile.

One of the greatest advantages over a white bonded filling as opposed to the traditional silver filling is that when we go to restore the tooth we do not have to remove any portion of the healthy part of the tooth. Instead we only remove the decayed portion of the tooth because the bond anchors the material tightly in place, retaining a healthier tooth structure.

Also, because white fillings are bonded to your tooth, they add strength to the tooth.