Central Coast Cosmetic Dentist for Tooth Fillings
Are you unhappy with the appearance of your smile? We’ve got the cosmetic options for you!
At Helix Dentistry we offer the full cosmetic dentistry range of white fillings.
What is a white filling made of?
There are two types materials for white fillings:
1. Composite white dental fillings: White dental fillings are made of a composite polymer resin material. The dentist prepares the tooth with an etching material and bonding layer. Once this is ready, the white filling material is applied to the tooth. It will then be set via a UV curing light to harden or ‘set’ the filling. The filling is then shaped and smoothed until it fits and looks like tooth enamel.
2. Porcelain white dental fillings: Porcelain restorations are one of the strongest and provide similar longevity to amalgams and and last much longer than white composite fillings. Porcelain restorations (inlays, onlays, crowns) can last 12-15 years or longer. At Helix Dentistry we offer same-day crowns milled with our very own CEREC CAD/CAM technology for same-day, on-site porcelain restorations.
When a filling is on the larger side, a porcelain filling is often your best choice for both strength and looks.
Benefits of white fillings
White resin fillings can be used to replace existing traditional silver fillings, improve the colour, shape, or size of a tooth, close spaces between front teeth, and ‘invisibly’ fix a broken tooth.
How long do composite (white) fillings last?
Composite or white fillings can also be placed on back teeth. They can generally be expected to last roughly 5 years (issues with strength may be a counter issue). One disadvantage of composite white fillings is that it’s one of the weakest materials in terms of mechanical strength.
On problem with white fillings is that they have a lifespan of roughly 5 years. This can vary from patient to patient.
My white fillings turning black
It’s common to notice your white fillings are turning black.
Staining or change of color in your white fillings may indicate a problem.
Discolouration under your fillings it could be due to a number of reasons.
- Tooth decay
- Staining from certain foods like coffee and red white
- Leakage of the bonding surface of the tooth
- Tooth fracture or cracking
Any of these problems will likely mean your white fillings need replacing. Leaving the problem can mean it becomes a much bigger problem in the future!
If a composite filling has failed it may mean you need a stronger porcelain filling or dental crown.
White fillings vs silver cost
White fillings are generally more expensive than amalgam fillings. This is because the time they take to place and clinical difficulty in placing them and the cost of material.
How much does it cost for a white filling?
Our white fillings vary from $200-350
Porcelain fillings are more expensive, but when you consider you may have to replace a plastic resin filling over and over, the cost differential may prove to be a lot less than first envisaged. For bigger restorations at the back of the mouth we normally use a porcelain, due to its strength. And for smaller fillings, like smaller cavities in the front of the mouth, we normally use plastic or resin fillings. For removing or replacing of the amalgam fillings, Cerec is probably one of the best choices to use then.
Are white fillings bad for you?
Generally white fillings are safe. However, like any medical treatment, there are risks and benefits to weight up.
What is a white filling made of?
Composite is a plastic that sets (have some level of BPA)
BPA free porcelain fillings
These are our gold standard fillings. Performed on the same day.
Tooth-colored restorations that are Bisphenol-A-free would automatically exclude almost all resin composite restoratives and their corresponding bonding agents.
Is there any danger with composite fillings that contain BPA?
Every medical treatment, medication or intervention comes with both advantages and side effects.
Composite fills are completed with a restorative material that contain less resin than many other composite brands. Less resin means a reduction in the presence of trace amounts of bisphenols.
Even for smaller restorations, positive points of comparison with amalgams do not mean composites are the perfect filling material for everyone. There is speculation over potential estrogen-mimicking effects of plastic chemicals like Bisphenol A contained in certain composite resins. If this is a concern for you, we offer white porcelain fillings that offer superior strength and are BPA-free.
Same-Day BPA-Free Porcelain Restorations
Porcelain is the most biocompatible, hypo-allergenic, non-metallic dental filling of which we are aware at this time.
White fillings that last longer
Potential longevity of dental restorations is a critical factor because every dental procedure represents trauma to the nerve of the tooth. Repeated trauma to the nerve from filling replacement during the course of a lifetime will eventually cause nerve breakdown. Porcelain restorations cost more initially than amalgams or composites, but porcelain’s longevity decreases the potential need for root canal therapy.
Whether the filling is of amalgam, white composite or porcelain, longevity is influenced by the amount of natural tooth structure preserved during removal of decay. An amalgam filling cannot adhere to tooth surfaces, and the amalgam-placing dentist must create an undercut after removing decay, sacrificing healthy tooth structure to trap the amalgam filling in place. For composites or porcelain, the dentist strives to remove decay only. The cleaned-out space inside the tooth for a composite or porcelain prep often has relatively straight or inward-slanting walls. Healthy tooth structure is preserved.
Again, we encourage you to research safety issues surrounding amalgam restorations for yourself. When existing amalgam fillings are mechanically intact, it must be your personal choice to have them replaced with other materials, whether for health or esthetic reasons.
Book your cosmetic white dental fillings today.
