Do I need to see a cosmetic dentist for white fillings?

Did you know that most adults tend to have cavities at some point in life?

A whopping 92 percent of adults between the age of 20 years & 64 years tend to have cavities in their permanent teeth.

Around 26 percent of adults tend to have untreated cavities. As cavities are quite common issues, it is a good idea to know about the common cavity filling options from the expert dentists at Muswell Hill Smile, the leading dental clinic in North London delivering high-end cosmetic dentistry services.

Decayed or broken parts of teeth are required to be restored for regaining function as well as aesthetics while stopping bacteria from entering the pulp. This is where the role of cavity fillings comes into play.

Thankfully, there are various options for dental fillings available nowadays. Fillings are known to vary in the overall material and complexity. While some are direct fillings that are added directly into the cavity, there are other indirect fillings as well. With the indirect form of a dental filling, an impression of the tooth affected by the cavity is taken by the experienced dentist. Later on, a custom-made filling is prepared to fit around the cavity conveniently.

While you might come across the option of various kinds of dental fillings, the white fillings for cavities are the best available options out there. In this post, we will help you understand the different kinds of fillings available for a cavity filling and why white fillings are the most popular options.

Types of Dental Fillings

Amalgam Fillings

You might regard amalgam as a classic option when it comes to tooth cavity fillings. As per the United States of America FDA (Food & Drug Administration), the dentists all around the world have been using this kind of dental filling for over a century.

As the name of the filling indicates, amalgam fillings are known to be made of a blend of several metals. Typically, these dental fillings are known to contain around 50 per cent mercury in addition to other compatible metals like zinc, copper, tin, or silver. In comparison to other types of dental fillings for tooth restoration, the amalgam fillings have a few benefits:

• They are the cheaper option when it comes to cavity fillings
• They are strong as well as long-lasting fillings

They are silver in appearance and can, therefore, be easily seen. Eventually, they might even become darker over time. As such, if you are concerned about the overall aesthetics of your teeth, you might as well consider refraining from the same. While FDA has declared that the level of mercury found in these fillings as safe for people above 6 years of age, you might still not prefer having this metal for your cavity filling.

Gold Fillings

You might have encountered a wide number of people opting for the precious gold material when it comes to dental fillings. Given the strong nature of the metal, cavity fillings made of gold material tend to be highly durable as well as long-lasting.

The leading dental experts claim that gold fillings can remain effective for your cavity for over two decades. However, its overall durability comes with a price – the gold fillings are the most expensive kinds of dental fillings out there. These are indirect forms of fillings. Therefore, you might require visiting your dentist more than once for getting them placed correctly.

Composite Fillings

Usually made out of acrylic resin and powdered glass, composite dental fillings are known to offer a few benefits over the option of amalgam fillings. The best benefit obtained out of composite fillings is that they can be custom-made to match the exact colour of the patient receiving them.

This property makes them significantly less visible in comparison to amalgam and gold dental fillings. As people wish to achieve a more natural appearance talking or smiling, composite dental fillings have become quite popular.

Even after its aesthetics benefits, the composite filling is not always regarded as the best option. The material that is used for making the filling (acrylic resin & powdered glass) is not as durable as amalgam or gold. It is regarded as a viable option when small fillings are concerned. Moreover, it is also regarded as best-suited for teeth that experience less to moderate levels of pressure while chewing to ensure less wear & tear over time.

White Fillings

With certain limitations with all kinds of other dental fillings, white fillings are the best aesthetic option out there. In the modern era, cosmetic dentists or specialists are increasingly making use of the economical white dental filling option. While availing the services, it is recommended to visit a highly qualified and experienced cosmetic dentist familiar with glass ionomer fillings, which you will find at Muswell Hill Smile, to be assured of the best outcomes.

When you go for the option of a tooth-coloured or white filling restoration for your teeth, it delivers a great sense of confidence while talking or smiling. Tooth-coloured restorations or white filling materials allow the cosmetic dentist to fill the tooth with a strong material that can be exactly matched to your tooth colour.

As such, the filling appears almost invisible. The naturally appearing white-coloured tooth fillings are around 90-95 percent stronger, just like the natural tooth having no cavity. Tooth-coloured restorations or white composite fillings are bonded to the remaining tooth area. This is in contrast to the gold or amalgam tooth fillings.

The underlying property of the resin material makes it a highly conservative approach when it comes to tooth restoration, as less drilling of the affected tooth is required while securing the filling.

Some of the additional benefits of a white tooth filling carried out by a professional cosmetic dentist are

• Fillings contain no mercury
• Highly aesthetically appealing
• Fillings bond well to the teeth with less drilling required
• Highly durable and causing less fracture on a long-term basis
• A filling is healthier for gums as the glazed ceramic surface provides fewer opportunities for plaque to accumulate

Make the most of the white composite fillings that your cosmetic dental experts at Muswell Hill Smile provide! Have a free consultation at our North London practice to see the difference for yourself.