White fillings
In the past, teeth were filled with a mixture or amalgam of different metals. Today, the modern dentistry is changing the fillings as more natural-looking and metal-free fillings are becoming the preferred approach. Through technological advances, we now have the 5th generation bonding systems which enable to restore the teeth successfully with strong, durable and smiling enhancing fillings. Unlike silver (amalgam) filling, white fillings stick to the teeth and could be used to repair chipped, broken or even decayed teeth. Moreover, dentists could white fillings for comestic improvement by changing the colour of the teeth or reshapeing disfigured teeth.
Aaesthetic are main advantage of white fillings, since dentists can blend shades to create color nearly identical to that of the actual tooth, and remain tooth structure which helps to prevent breakage and insulate the tooth from excessive temperature changes. White fillings have always been considered less durable than silver amalgam fillings but latest white fillings have been proved to last for 7-10 years.
Some of the newest composite can leach out flouride which helps to prevent further decay in the area.
There are various types of white fillings available for different purposes and places of the teeth. They include composite fillings, glass ionomer fillings or a mixture of both types above –the compomer fillings.
