If you are like the majority of Americans, you have had at least a few cavities throughout your lifetime. Dentists remove these decayed parts of the tooth and fill the empty space with what is called a filling. These fillings provide the tooth with strength and support in the places that the decayed tooth was drilled. There are two main fillings that dentists use, white fillings (also known as composite fillings) and silver fillings (also known as amalgam fillings). This post will examine the difference between the two types.

White Fillings:
These fillings are composed of ceramic and plastic and are the most popular choice in regards to fillings. Part of what makes white fillings such an attractive option is that there are no serious risks to the tooth, due to their components. Additionally, these fillings do not require much of the tooth to be removed. Lastly, for patients looking for a more realistic and visually pleasing option, white fillings are the way to go.

Some of the disadvantages of composite fillings include the higher cost, as well as more time spent performing the procedure. Depending on how the patient maintains their teeth, they may not be as durable.

Kimia Family Dentistry has you covered if you are looking into getting composite fillings in Granada Hills.

Silver Fillings:
Unlike white fillings, silver fillings are made of a combination of metals, including silver, copper, tin, and mercury. There are several advantages provided by this type of filling. First of all, amalgam fillings are very strong and durable, lasting around 15 years before they need to be replaced. This means that they are ideal for molars, because of the constant grinding and force that these teeth are under. Lastly, silver fillings may be less expensive than white fillings, saving you some money.

It is important to consider some of the disadvantages of this type of filling. First of all, these fillings are not as realistic or visually pleasing, and there is clear evidence that dental work has been done. Additionally, in order to repair the cavity, dentists need to remove a larger part of the tooth in order to put silver fillings in.

There you have it, some of the differences between white and silver fillings. If you have a cavity that needs to be filled come to our dentist Granada Hills to have your problem resolved while getting the results you want.