White Fillings
Improve your Image. Don't hide your smile!

Every embarrassed by those ugly black fillings in your mouth? Do they show when you laugh?

Not so many years ago, there were two types of fillings... silver or gold. Silver Amalgam has been the mainstay of dentistry for over 150 years. While it has served us well, the days of amalgam are numbered. Besides the fact they becomes unsightly by turning black, amalgams have other drawbacks. Silver amalgam requires removal of tooth beyond the decay in order to allow it to lock mechanically into the tooth. Silver amalgam also expands over time procuring stresses that may cause cracks or fractures in the tooth.

Gold Inlays are still highly regarded as long lasting restorations, and in some the ideal choice. However they may require tooth removal beyond the decay. Additionally, in today's image oriented society, many consider gold cosmetically unacceptable.

New materials and techniques have enabled us to provide what patients have wanted all along: White fillings.

Tooth colored (white) restorations include:
- Direct Composites Composites have been the cutting edge material in dentistry for the past several years. Composite is a high-tech plastic. A "Direct" Composite filling is a tooth colored filings that is done in a single office visit. It is most appropriate for small restorations.
- Composite Inlays (Lab Processed Composite). Today's state of the art restorations is the Inlay. It is a lab processed composite (also called "indirect") which is bonded to the tooth. Lab processed composite inlays are stronger and more durable than "Direct" Composites. Two office visits are required for this procedure.
- Porcelain Inlays/Onlays. Porcelain Inlays and Onlays are very similar to Composite Inlays, and are appropriate for larger restorations.

All three of the above restorations offer advantages over previous procedures. These materials are actually bonded to the tooth structure. This bonding eliminates the need for extensive tooth removal and allows us to conserve as much natural tooth structure as possible. This bond also strengthens the tooth. And, of course, they disappear and look like natural teeth!