WHAT ARE COMPOSITE OR WHITE FILLINGS?

Composite fillings are a mixture of glass or quartz in a resin medium.

Advantages:

White fillings can easily match teeth.

White fillings wear faster that natural tooth structure.

White filling material is sensitive to moisture and must be placed perfectly.

White fillings cost more than silver fillings.

Some people can experience sensitivity to hot and cold and pressure after it is placed.

The sensitivity usually goes away, but a few teeth may require root canal to ease the sensitivity.

White fillings wear faster than metals, and may need to be replaced sooner than metal fillings.

Silver fillings, gold inlays and onlays, tooth colored inlays and onlays, and crowns are other alternatives to white fillings.