White vs Silver Fillings - Soft Touch Dentistry

White Fillings
O'Fallon, Illinois

Also known as composite fillings, white fillings are designed to match the color
of your teeth. They can be used to restore a decayed tooth or repair a defect.
Although they are often used on the front teeth where a natural appearance is
important, they may also be used on a back tooth when the restoration is small
or may be visible.

How are white fillings done?
Like silver fillings, composites can be prepared and placed in one visit. After the
decayed portion of the tooth is removed, Dr. Thompson will use a very mild acid
solution to "etch" the tooth surface. A bonding agent is brushed onto the
prepared tooth, followed by several thin layers of the tooth-colored composite.
Once the composite filling is placed, the material is chemically hardened, or
cured, with a special light, then polished.

There are many reasons why most dental patients choose white fillings
over the traditional metal fillings. The mercury in silver fillings is viewed as
potentially toxic, and many patients feel that the white composite fillings
represent a more advanced technology. Composite fillings are also more
cosmetically pleasing and resistant to fracture.

If you have a growing cavity or wish to fix a tooth defect, white fillings may be
right for you. You can also replace old metal fillings with the simpler, more
attractive white fillings.

Should I have my Mercury Fillings replaced with white ones?
Click here to review the latest 2008 press releases regarding mercury fillings.

If you are considering white fillings in St. Louis or the Metro East (O'Fallon,IL),
please call or e-mail us today to schedule your initial consultation.