Silver or White Fillings- Which is Best For You?

If you're like many of us, you may have silver fillings in your mouth. These silver, or amalgam, fillings have been around for more than 100 years. The amalgam filling material is made from silver, mercury, tin, copper and other metallic substances. This combination makes the material very durable and relatively inexpensive. Although there has been some concern over the use of mercury for these types of fillings, several health organizations such as the World Health Organization and Center for Disease Control have stated that the combination of other metals with the mercury make the filling safer for use in teeth. Some disadvantages to silver fillings are that they may be visible when you laugh or speak, and that dentists may have to drill more of the tooth away in order to pack in the amalgam.

Composite, or white, fillings are tooth-colored and more aesthetically appealing. It's almost like you never had a filling at all! White fillings are a mixture of glass or quartz. They too are durable and resistant to cracks or breaks. Because white fillings can also be bonded, less drilling of the tooth is required. Although white fillings are more expensive, they are more cosmetically appealing and may allow dentists to drill a smaller filling than amalgam fillings.

I personally recommend that my patients receive the composite fillings. If you already have silver fillings, you can have them replaced with the tooth-colored fillings. For more information about these types of fillings, please visit our Website.