With 84% of all adults having at least one or more fillings and the average adult having 7 fillings. It’s important to understand the different filling options available to you and go over some of the most common questions asked of our dentists at Smile Essential dental practice in Leicester.
Nowadays tooth coloured ‘white’ fillings can be made to look like the surrounding natural tooth. We treat many people at Smile Essential dental practice that are conscious about their silver ‘amalgam’ fillings show when they laugh or smile.
There are 2 main misconceptions about white fillings and silver fillings that our Leicester patients ask are:
Will white fillings be as strong as metal fillings?
The answer to this question has changed over the past 20 years. Dental materials are constantly improving and whilst silver fillings used to be stronger than white fillings, the new improved materials are now just as strong.
Are white fillings more expensive than silver fillings?
All filling costs vary dependant upon the size and location of the filling and tooth. At our dental practice the difference of cost is quite small. White fillings are around £10 more than silver fillings. The difference is mainly due to the higher cost of materials involved with placing a white filling.
So what if you already have silver fillings- should you replace them?
This is best assessed on an individual basis by your dentist. If the fillings aren’t visible and are dentally sound, then often it is considered best to leave until it requires replacing and then opt for a tooth coloured filling.
However, if the filling is visible and it makes you self-conscious when smiling or laughing then do discuss it with your dentist so they can assess it.
Should you always opt for a white filling?
White fillings whilst comparable to silver fillings in strength and longevity may not always be the best option for you. This could be for a number of reasons with probably the most common being moisture control. It’s crucial when placing most tooth coloured fillings to keep the area completely dry for several minutes and this may not be possible for that particular tooth.
Find out more about our tooth coloured fillings here…
