Composite Resin

(a.k.a. white fillings, tooth colored fillings)

Amalgam

(a.k.a. silver fillings, mercury fillings)

Perhaps the most natural looking way to repair a tooth is through a composite filling. Composites can be in a wide range of tooth colors allowing near invisible restoration of teeth. The attachment to the tooth is through a bonded process which allows for the repair of small fractures and chips in teeth.

VS.

Amalgam fillings are often known as “silver fillings.” Dental amalgam is a mixture of mercury, silver, tin and copper. Mercury, which makes up about 50% of the compound, binds the metals together to provide a strong, durable filling. When combined with the other metals, the mercury in fillings forms a safe, stable compound. This type of filling has been around since 1895.

• the shade/color of the composite fillings can be closely matched to the color of existing teeth. Composites are particularly well suited for use in front teeth or visible parts of teeth

• darker, silver color once applied to teeth, making them instantly noticeable

• can often times stain the dentin and cause a greying of the teeth

• composite fillings wear out sooner than amalgam fillings (lasting at least five years compared with at least 10 to 15 for amalgams); in addition, they may not last as long as amalgam fillings under the pressure of chewing and particularly if used for large cavities

• less tooth structure needs to be removed compared with amalgam fillings when removing decay and preparing for the filling

• composites chemically bond to the tooth and allows for a more conservative preparation design'

• typically the procedure time is greater as composites are technique sensitive and have several more steps for their application to teeth