What is it? | Consultation | Procedure | Recovery

What are White Composite Fillings?

White dental fillings are made of composite resin and serve to fill cavities just like silver amalgam dental fillings. However, white dental fillings are matched to the color of your teeth and are virtually invisible. Tooth-colored dental fillings have become more popular over the years.

As the availability of white dental fillings has increased and the possible dangers associated with amalgam dental fillings have been publicized, more and more patients are having their cavities filled with beautifully white, tooth-colored dental fillings.

Advantages of White Composite Fillings:

• Composite filling integrates with the tooth. It doesn’t weaken the tooth as a silver filling does.
• Dentist now can make a smaller hole, since the white material can flow into small places.
• Due to the smaller hole, there is more of your own tooth left, leaving it stronger.
• Secondary decay is easier to spot beneath tooth colored fillings. If damaged, they can be easily fixed.
• They are temperature and electrical insulators-resistant to extremes of heat and cold.
• Environmentally safe-no hazardous metal wastes to dispose of and no risk of mercury allergy.
• Allowing dentist to fix smaller cavities.
• You don’t have to wait till a cavity gets “big enough to fill”.
• In some cases dentists can do an almost microscopic filling just when it starts by using air abrasion instead of the drill. These are often done without anesthetic if we catch them early enough.
• They are a more natural, attractive choice.
• Composites bond to the tooth to support the remaining tooth to help prevent breakage.
• Composite insulate the tooth from excessive temperature changes.
• Composites (white fillings) last about 8 years with a range of 7-10 years.

Disadvantages of White Composite Fillings:

• The presence of saliva can compromise the bonding process. The tooth requires isolation.
• This matter will not work well on wisdom teeth because there is no adjacent tooth to shore up the outer edge.
• Potential to leak.
• Many insurance companies do not yet cover them.
• Composite fillings themselves are weaker and may last a shorter period than a silver filling. In addition, a composite filling may cost about 25 % more than the same silver filling.

* Information has been taken from different online sources. Mostly from http://medellindentalsolutions.com and http://www.etowndental.com

Back to top

Consultation

When it comes to selecting the best material for you and your particular teeth, a consultation with your dentist is a must. Strength, esthetics, cost and longevity of dental filling materials may vary greatly in different situations and for different patients.

Some of the considerations your dentist takes into account when recommending a particular filling material for your teeth are the current condition of the teeth, the size of the area to be restored, the location of the teeth involved and the forces (chewing, shearing, grinding, etc.) being placed on the teeth during chewing and other normal movements of your jaw.

During your first consultation the cosmetic dentist of your choice will ask you a number of questions and discuss the following health related topics, desires and lifestyle to evaluate your medical record:

1. Your medical condition, drug allergies and previous medical treatments.
2. If and what kind of current medications, vitamins, herbal supplements, alcohol, tobacco & drugs you use.
3. If and which previous surgeries you have already realized.
4. Your general health status and any pre-existing health conditions or risk factors.
5. Define if you´re a candidate for the specific procedure.

Back to top

Procedure

1. The decayed portions of the the tooth must be removed which leaves a hole that needs to be filled to restore the tooth to its original form and function.
2. The tooth is prepared and etched with a mild acid solution.
3. Than the composite is placed in layers, using a light specialized to harden each layer.
4. When the process is done the filling will be shaped to fit the tooth.

This filling is then polished to prevent staining and early wear. It takes the dentist about 10-20 minutes longer to place a composite than a silver filling because larger the size the longer the filling will take.

Your Dentist will also inform you where your procedure will be performed. This facility, like an office-based surgical center, outpatient or ambulatory surgical center, or a hospital, is accredited and regularly audited by FlyClinic®.

Back to top

Recovery from Surgery

It is FlyClinic®´s concern to provide you comprehensive information about the procedure you want to choose, as well as important facts about the safety and risks of the procedure you selected.

1. Use a neutral sodium fluoride because stannous fluorides can be detrimental or negative effect on composite resins and ceramics.
2. Use a soft toothbrush or electric toothbrush twice a day
3. Floss once a day, before bedtime is the best time to floss.
4. Use non-abrasive toothpaste like original Crest or Colgate. Avoid “extra whitening” or “whitening” toothpaste. This toothpaste often is very abrasive and can scratch restorations.
5. Drink tea, coffee or coke through a straw to avoid staining this material.
6. Alcohol rinses may affect the longevity of a restoration. Alcohol is a solvent of resin/resin cements/bonding agents.

The result is softening of the composite matrix; which may increase our ability to abrade the resin material, making it rough and more prone to staining and early breakdown. Recommend switching to alcohol free rinse and mouth spray alternatives.

Back to top