Austin Cosmetic White Fillings - Replace Gray Amalgam Fillings
Composite Resins
Partial tooth loss resulting from decay or accidental damage can often be repaired with a composite resin filling. Unlike traditional silver (amalgam) fillings, white fillings are essentially invisible. They are most often used to repair front teeth that have been chipped or decayed and teeth with small or moderate amounts of decay.
White fillings can be used in back teeth depending on the amount of damage and decay. However, they are not as strong as metallic restorations. They are generally not a long-term solution for large fillings or below-gumline decay in the back of the mouth. White fillings also bond best to enamel, a condition that can be difficult to meet in severely decayed teeth.
What are the benefits?
- Non-metallic, no mercury.
- Low thermal conductivity and less sensitivity post-operatively.
- White fillings come in a variety of shades and can be matched to the color of your smile.
- A tooth needs [less preparation] for a white filling than for a silver filling. Click here to view page minimally invasive dentistry.
Composite Filling Before and After Pictures
Inlays & Onlays
Inlays and onlays, unlike fillings, are constructed in the office or a dental laboratory and subsequently bonded to the tooth. They are alternatives to silver and white fillings, and are indicated for large surface-area or cusp replacement where half the tooth (or close) remains intact.
Inlays and onlays can be made in gold alloys and tooth-colored porcelain and can be virtually indistinguishable from your natural teeth while restoring your natural function.
What are the benefits?
- Inlays and onlays are more suited for repairing the chewing surfaces of back teeth. The materials are more durable, more resistant to wear and fracture. Silver fillings degrade and expand as they age, causing leakage and potential tooth breakage. Composite resins experience a higher susceptibility to wear and decreased lifespan.
- Where applicable, these restorations can be a more conservative alternative to fill crown treatment.