White Dental Fillings
May 12, 2010 by Doug Larson
Filed under Patient information
Composite Resin Fillings
History of White Fillings
First introduced in the 1960s, composite resin technology has improved immensely in the past forty years. At first the fillings preformed poorly. Improvements in the structure starting in the mid 1980s allowed the white fillings to preform on par with silver fillings. The tooth-colored plastic and silicon dioxide (sand) mixture employed in these “white fillings” successfully withstands pressure and wear for many years. The longevity of composite resins is comparable to that of silver fillings.
Longevity of White Fillings
Two white fillings.
To place a white filling, a specialized light is used to harden the pliable layers of composite resin. After the composite is shaped to fit the tooth, polishing prevents staining and excessive wear. Placement time is contingent upon the cavity’s size and location, this process lasts ten or twenty minutes longer than a silver filling placement. A few patients may experience post-operative sensitivity.
Used to restore decayed areas and reshape disfigured teeth, composite resins provide aesthetic benefits over silver fillings; color manipulation produces resin to match the patient’s natural teeth. Tea, coffee, and other staining foods may slightly alter the original composite color, however. Bonded to the original tooth structure, composites also provide insulation from excessive temperature change and offer structural integrity to prevent breakage.
No More Silver Fillings
Esthetically, white fillings are wonderful you just can’t tell them from you own teeth. Doctor Larson started using composite fillings exclusively in 1989, no more silver fillings! Though prices vary, white fillings cost approximately one-and-a-half times the fee of their silver counterparts. Under most dental insurance plans, patients must pay this difference, though insurance coverage will certainly increase as technology continues to improve.
