The Win-Win Solution of Composite Fillings

When a tooth is damaged, it needs to be repaired. One of the most time-trusted ways to repair minor tooth damage, such as a cavity, is a dental filling. Past filling methods included amalgam, otherwise known as metal or silver fillings. Since these fillings can pose some risks to your appearance and health, modern dentistry now offers a more patient-preferred tooth repair with the use of composite resin.

The Drawback of Silver Fillings

Amalgam fillings contain mercury. Although these fillings are still being used today, it is with diminishing numbers. Metal fillings can blacken and expand with age, which causes staining and cracking. If you are looking for a metal-free alternative for your dental filling, we can provide a white composite filling at Montevallo Family Dentistry.

White Fillings

White fillings are made of composite resin, a plastic and glass mixture that blends in with your natural tooth color. Patients who choose composite fillings can reap the following advantages of this aesthetically-pleasing dental filling material:

  • Natural in color and blends well with your existing teeth.
  • “Bonded” directly to your teeth, which pulls your tooth together, making it stronger.
  • More stable in extreme hot and cold temperatures (like when eating ice cream or drinking coffee) than amalgam, which means that they don’t expand or contract as much.

At Montevallo Family Dentistry, we love giving patients of all ages a dental filling that is both functional and attractive. Composite resin is so natural-looking that it is also used cosmetically to fill in small tooth gaps, repair a chipped tooth or alter the shape of a tooth. Composite resin is applied in layers and hardened with a special curing light. The entire process is painless and quick!

Learn more about modern tooth-colored fillings today by calling our Montevallo dental team.

Posted on Behalf of Montevallo Family Dentistry