Can I Replace My Silver Fillings With White Ones?

For over 150 years standard fillings have been made out of a silvery-grey material called 'amalgam'. This is still one of the strongest and longest-lasting materials available for fillings. However, many people find it unattractive and some are concerned about possible health risks.
There are now alternatives to amalgam fillings. If a tooth needs filling or repairing, white fillings are now replacing many amalgam ones. The new dental materials mean it is much easier to find a perfect match for the shade of a particular tooth. In most cases, it is quite impossible to see that the tooth even has a filling.

What Is A Composite Filling?

Composite filling is resin based and is applied as a putty-like material. This can be moulded to the exact shape of the tooth and is then set using a visible blue light. It can be matched exactly to the shade of your tooth and most are now as strong as amalgam, proving to be a successful alternative.

How Much Will It Cost?

If you need a filling, you will be given all the available options for restoring the tooth, together with the current prices. Once a treatment choice has been made you will be provided with a written estimate. Prices vary depending on the size of the filling, a current price list is displayed in the waiting areas.

What is 'adhesive' Dentistry?

Modern techniques now involve sticking fillings to teeth using special dental adhesives. This technique is often called 'adhesive' dentistry. The area is treated with a solution which roughens the surface of the tooth - much the same as using sandpaper 'keys' the wall ready for painting. The adhesive is applied and the filling is 'bonded' to the tooth. The advantages of this method are that the cavity needs less preparation. Both amalgam and composite fillings are placed using this technique.

What Are Veneers?

Veneers are thin slices of porcelain. These are precisely made to fit over the visible surface of front teeth, very much like a false fingernail. There are also 'composite' veneers and these can be completed in just one visit.

Why Might I Have a Veneer?

Veneers are an ideal way of treating discoloured or unsightly teeth, closing gaps between front teeth, or repairing chips and cracks.

What Are Veneers Made Of?

Porcelain veneers are made by a dental technician, using impressions taken by the dentist. The veneers are made in the laboratory and bonded to the tooth to form a strong and natural-looking repair.
Composite veneers can be completed in one visit and involve bonding tooth-coloured filling material to the front of the tooth.

Although these veneers are slightly more prone to staining and have a shorter life, they are easily replaced.