Dental fillings are restorative materials used by dentists to fill cavities and repair broken or worn out teeth. The fillings serve to restore the form, function and integrity of the tooth structure that has suffered structural loss due to external trauma, caries or any other reason. Today, various kinds of dental fillings are available including white fillings and silver amalgam ones..
White Fillings vs. Silver Amalgam
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White Filling
A white filling, also known as a ‘Composite resin’ filling is a mixture of powdered glass and a plastic resin. It could also be composed of real ‘porcelain’. The color of the filling resembles that of the tooth. On exposure to blue light, the white filling tends to harden. Often, it is self-hardening in nature. White filling is relatively new to dentistry in comparison with its counterpart, Silver amalgam. It seems like many of the dentists like https://smileworks.us are now promoting it rather than just saying it is an option for filling cavities.
Pros and Cons
Since the white filling is tooth-colored, its main advantage is related to aesthetics and cosmetic improvements. Once the filling is done, the tooth looks much like before which is good for one’s self-image. Shades of this filling can be blended according to requirements of specific patients. The Composite resin is bio-compatible and can be filled in with precision. However, this type of filling can prove to be an expensive option to explore. In fact, white filling can cost up to two times the cost of the silver one. Often, Composite fillings tend to wear out soon.
Silver Amalgam
This type of filling is basically a mercury alloy and is more commonly used. It consists of about 50% mercury along with silver, tin, copper and some trace metals. This filling has been used for ages, representing the traditional way of restoring tooth damage.
Pros and Cons
Since mercury is a toxic material, questions always arise about the ‘safety’ of the Silver filling, shrouding it in controversy. In comparison with the white filling, a silver filling is easier and quicker to place in the tooth, especially in case of children. In contrast with the white filling, an amalgam one is tolerant of a number of clinical conditions during placement. The dentist has to be more careful while placing the white filling due to its sensitivity to certain clinical factors. Also, the silver amalgam filling is comparatively more economical and durable, lasting for several years longer than the counterpart.
Both, white and silver fillings come with their inherent advantages and disadvantages. It is best to pick after consulting with your dental practitioner for maximum benefit.
