White (Composite) Fillings In Sutton Coldfield, Birmingham
What Are White Teeth Fillings?
White Teeth Fillings are one of the least invasive restorative treatments available at Four Oaks Dental, This treatment involves “filling in” areas of your tooth so you can enjoy restored oral health, restored bite balance, and a lower risk of future dental problems. At Four Oaks Dental we use white (composite) fillings that blend in with your smile seamlessly, so you hardly know they are even there.
White teeth fillings are tooth-coloured composite fillings that are made from a high-grade resin, they can also be used as a cosmetic treatment, to improve the shape of your teeth. White composite fillings are durable and strong, most suited to small to mid-size fillings. They can be used both on the front and back teeth, and present a good option for patients who want to maintain natural looking teeth.
When Would I Need A Tooth Filling?
Patients of all ages, even young children, may need a tooth filling. Symptoms can include a consistent toothache, sudden pain when you bite down, food getting caught in a damaged tooth or sensitivity to hot and cold food or drinks.
Tooth Decay
Tooth decay is one of the most common reasons for needing a filling. Bacteria can feed on the sugars and starches left on your teeth by food or drink, causing plaque to form. The acids in plaque soften and then dissolve your enamel (the hard-protective coating on your teeth). This results in holes being formed in your tooth which can be treated quickly and effectively with a white (composite) filling.
Chipping & Abrasion
You might have a sharp, broken, chipped or worn tooth as part of an injury, grinding your teeth or by excessive/aggressive brushing. This can expose the inner parts of the tooth and lead to erosion over time. Our experienced dentists at Four Oak Dental can treat all these issues with a white (composite) filling.
Tooth Replacement Prevention
Fillings are an ideal solution to cavities and decay but if left untreated a cavity can result in a tooth that requires removing which can be expensive and can cause further complications with your oral health.
What Are The Benefits Of A White (Composite) Teeth Filling?
Advantages of white fillings:
A white filling can be matched to the colour of your surrounding tooth.
- White fillings don’t have the same potential environmental or health risk posed by the mercury in amalgam fillings.
- Some people find they experience less post-treatment discomfort and sensitivity when using white composite fillings.
- Amalgam fillings can often hide further tooth decay from x-rays; white fillings don’t have this problem.
- Teeth with white fillings are less prone to cracking. For an amalgam filling to stay in place, the base of the filling needs to be wider than the neck, so some healthy tooth may need to be drilled away weakening the remaining tooth.
Advantages of white fillings:
Although most patients would rather choose white fillings, there are some disadvantages:
- White coloured fillings are more expensive than amalgam fillings.
- Filling cavities with white fillings is a slightly more skilled procedure than using amalgam filling.
- White fillings take a little longer to place than amalgam fillings as the area has to be completely dry before the composite mixture can be applied.