When tooth decay affects teeth, restoring your smile can improve both health and aesthetics. Unlike traditional metal options, which can be noticeable and have potential downsides, white materials blend seamlessly with your natural teeth. Dr. James Polley offers high-quality, mercury-free solutions at his Las Vegas dental office to help you achieve a strong, beautiful smile.
If you’re interested in learning more about white restorations or want to replace your metal fillings, schedule a consultation by calling (702) 873-0324.
Benefits of White Fillings
White restorations, also known as composite or ceramic, provide significant advantages over metal amalgam options. These modern solutions improve the look of your smile and offer a healthier, more secure treatment for cavities and decay.
Aesthetic and Functional Advantages
White fillings are an increasingly popular choice for several reasons:
- Natural Appearance: White fillings are color-matched to blend perfectly with your natural teeth, so they’re practically invisible.
- Durability and Bonding: Composite materials bond directly to the tooth structure, creating a tight seal that helps protect against further decay and reduces tooth sensitivity.
- No Blackening or Oxidation: Unlike metal fillings, white fillings won’t turn black or oxidize, helping your smile stay bright and healthy-looking over time.
- Temperature Insulation: White fillings insulate teeth against hot and cold temperatures, making them less likely to cause discomfort or sensitivity.
Health Benefits Compared to Metal Fillings
In addition to aesthetic benefits, white restorations offer advantages for your long-term oral health. Unlike metal ones, which can change shape with temperature fluctuations, white materials don’t expand or contract as noticeably, reducing the risk of tiny cracks that can lead to more extensive dental issues.
Why White Fillings Are Better Than Metal
While metal amalgam restorations were once the standard for treating cavities, they come with several drawbacks that white options effectively address.
Problems with Traditional Metal Fillings
Metal fillings are placed into the cavity without bonding to the tooth structure, which means they rely on the surrounding tooth for stability. Over time, this lack of bonding can lead to issues like percolation, where fluids seep between the filling and the tooth. This creates the potential for bacterial buildup, which can lead to further decay or infection.
Temperature Sensitivity and Cracking
Metal fillings also respond more to temperature changes, expanding with heat and contracting with cold. This expansion and contraction can lead to cracking in the tooth structure, weakening the tooth over time and requiring additional restoration.
Mercury Content Concerns
Metal restorations contain mercury, which some patients prefer to avoid. Although the American Dental Association (ADA) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) consider amalgam fillings safe, many choose white alternatives to eliminate any potential risk associated with mercury. These restorations are completely mercury-free, making them a safe and attractive option for most people.
Types of White Fillings: Composite Fillings, Inlays, and Onlays
Dr. Polley offers two types of white restorations to suit different needs: composite options and ceramic inlays and onlays.
Composite Fillings
Composite fillings are made from a resin-based material that contains ceramic particles, which enhance the filling’s strength and longevity. Dr. Polley applies the composite material as a soft putty that bonds securely to the prepared tooth, creating a tight seal that prevents further decay. Once in place, Dr. Polley uses a curing light to harden the material, followed by polishing to ensure a smooth, natural look that blends with your surrounding teeth.
Inlays and Onlays with CEREC Technology
For larger areas of decay or damage, ceramic inlays and onlays offer an attractive, durable alternative. Made from ceramic materials similar to crowns, inlays and onlays are custom-crafted to fit the specific area of your tooth that needs restoration. Dr. Polley uses advanced CEREC technology to design and mill these restorations in the office, often completing them in a single visit. Inlays and onlays act like partial crowns, providing extra strength and a natural appearance for larger restorations.
Schedule Your Appointment for White Fillings
If you’re ready to enhance your smile with white options or want to replace your metal ones with a more attractive, healthier choice, Dr. Polley is here to help. Schedule an appointment at our Las Vegas office to explore your options for white materials and other treatments tailored to your needs.
Call us at (702) 873-0324 or fill out our contact form to book your consultation. Dr. Polley looks forward to helping you achieve a bright, healthy smile with natural-looking, mercury-free fillings.