White fillings can also be called dental composite and they are the tooth-coloured resins used to restore a chipped, damaged, or decayed tooth.
What are white fillings?
White fillings blend seamlessly with your teeth, ensuring no-one will even know they are there. For many years white fillings were considered less long-lasting than traditional silver amalgam fillings. However, due to recent advances in materials, white fillings can now be used to repair most teeth.
How are white fillings fitted?
You will normally be given a local anaesthetic, before the tooth is prepared with any decayed or weakened tooth removed, then the dentist will restore the tooth with the filling material. White fillings are made from glass particles, synthetic resin and a setting ingredient and have the advantage of blending seamlessly with your natural teeth so you will not need to feel self-conscious when you talk, laugh or smile.
Will the treatment hurt?
The treatment is largely painless due to the anaesthetic that is used. Afterwards the treated area can feel tender and bruised and your tooth can be sensitive. This sensitivity generally subsides over a couple of days. If you are at all worried contact your dentist for advice.
Benefits of white fillings
Appealing – White fillings can be colour matched to your natural teeth ensuring they are not visible when you talk, laugh and smile.
Do not damage teeth – a white filling requires very little of the tooth structure to be removed, which means that more of your natural tooth is preserved. The fillings also bond directly with the tooth, strengthening and protecting.
Not affected by hot and cold – white fillings are not affected by temperature change and can therefore help to protect your tooth from fracture.