For many years, the only option available if you needed fillings to repair your teeth was amalgam. While this is effective, the material is grey and very visible in your mouth. This can make you feel self-conscious when laughing or speaking as amalgam fillings can be very obvious. Modern materials mean that we can now offer a great alternative in the form of white fillings, which are durable and extremely discreet. Unless your mouth is examined closely, it is very hard to see them at all. At Wimbledon Dental Care in Wimbledon, we have found that they are a popular choice with children and adults who prefer a more natural look.
What are white fillings?
Most people need fillings because their enamel and the underlying tooth has been decayed by plaque acid, creating a cavity. Fillings are used to plug the gap after the weakened areas have been removed from a tooth. This stops infection getting in, strengthens the tooth and prevents further damage. The material used in white fillings is a composite resin. This is slightly more expensive than silver amalgam, but has the obvious benefit of being almost invisible. We use tried and trusted composites such as Heraeus Venus and TPD Spectra which are well known for their very high performance qualities. They last well and enable us to repair your teeth reliably to keep them healthy in the long-term.
Why choose white fillings?
In addition to the obvious benefit of matching the tone of your original teeth, white fillings are also less damaging because of the way in which they are fitted. With amalgam, healthy tissue has to be removed along with the decayed area. The technique for white fillings is different so only the damaged tissue is removed. This means that you can retain as much of the original tooth as possible which keeps it strong. Some people who already have them choose to have their metal fillings replaced with white ones due to aesthetic reasons or because they are worried about mercury in amalgam. Whatever your reasons, we are happy to discuss your concerns, outline treatment options with you and create a plan which will give you the results you want.