our services

Tooth Repair

Tooth Replacement

Dental Cleaning and Treatment of Gum Diseases

Treatment of Dental Infections

dental servicesdental services

Tooth Repair: Fillings

Composite or White Fillings

With the decline in the use of amalgams by dentists, over 70% over the fillings created today are composed of resin or synthetic composite materials. Composite fillings are made up of acrylic and glass particles, and contain no mercury or other metals. The filling material is white or matched to the colour of your teeth and has a very natural appearance. However, it should be noted that these types of fillings, while improving strength because they are fused or bonded to the tooth, are only a short-term solution for larger fills, with a life of around two years. This type of filling material is also already hard immediately following the procedure, allowing you to chew on the tooth as soon as you like, unlike with amalgam fillings, which need time to harden. Because composite fillings require minimal tooth removal, the dentist also requires a smaller preparation, with less drilling required and more of the original tooth structure can be preserved.

However, composite fillings usually take longer to install than amalgam fillings, so you will require a longer stay at the dentist’s office. While composite fillings are used for back teeth and are perfectly adequate, they are not as strong as metal fillings. Tea, coffee and tobacco, among other things, can stain composite fillings over time and the colour of these type of fillings is unaffected if you whiten or bleach your teeth. The composite filling material is also more expensive and some insurance companies will not always pay for composite fillings on back teeth.

Amalgam and composite fillings each have their own particular advantages and disadvantages, and your dentist can help you decide which type of filling best meets your requirements.