Are white fillings only done as a cosmetic dentistry procedure?
While white fillings offer aesthetically pleasing cosmetic enhancements, we at Galleria Dental Aesthetics offer only white fillings to restore, repair or enhance our patient’s teeth. We do not use silver/mercury or amalgam fillings at all. Our cosmetic dentists believe white fillings offer far more benefits with none of the concerns of silver/mercury or amalgam fillings.
Is there a difference between white fillings, tooth bonding and tooth-colored fillings?
The terms white fillings and tooth-colored fillings refer to using composite resin to fill cavities in the same way amalgam fillings were used. Tooth bonding is a broader use of composite resin and includes building up the surface of teeth to reshape them, or whiten them by creating a veneer. Composite resin can be colored to match your teeth for any of these purposes.
Are there advantages to using white fillings?
The advantages of white fillings are numerous. One of the biggest advantages is that they do not expand contract when exposed to hot or cold foods. The composite resin used for white fillings also works well for front and back teeth as they can be colored to match your natural tooth color White fillings have superior strength as well as adhesive properties which bond the tooth together unlike the old silver/mercury fillings. For more information, please read our page titled Tooth-Colored Fillings.
What do white fillings cost?
White fillings are 25% to 30% more expensive than amalgam fillings. The composite resin materials cost a little more than metal filling materials. White fillings also take a little longer to apply because your cosmetic dentist must do more work to prepare your tooth for this filling, and must also spend additional time shaping and contouring the filling. However, the advantages far outweigh the additional expense.
To learn more about white fillings in Northern Virginia, please contact us at Galleria Dental Aesthetics for a personal evaluation by Dr. Lee, Dr. Oh or Dr. Mortazie.