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Metal to White Fillings

Happy New Year! Have you made any resolutions? For many people, the start of a new year seems like the perfect time to make some positive changes, whether that be to diet, habits, hobbies or something else entirely.

If you’re thinking: “New year, new smile” then we are in the perfect position to help you reach your goal. One of the fastest, easiest ways to make over your smile is to replace old metal amalgam fillings with tooth-coloured or white ones. This is a safe procedure and, particularly if you have a lot of fillings or they are near the front of your mouth, is a great way to transform your smile and boost your confidence.

Once upon a time, metal amalgam was the only option for patients needing fillings. It’s true that metal fillings are very strong and durable, able to withstand chewing forces inside your mouth. However, it’s also true that metal fillings are very obvious.

White fillings have been around for decades, and while they were once considered weaker than metal amalgam fillings, improvements in materials and techniques now mean white fillings are considered almost as strong as their metal counterparts.

While they are known as “white” fillings, perhaps it is more accurate to call them “tooth-coloured” fillings, as we are able to choose from a wide selection of shades to match them to the natural colour of your teeth.

White fillings are made of a composite resin material, which blends in with your tooth so that nobody will know you have any fillings at all. If you choose to have your metal amalgam fillings replaced by white ones, your dentist will remove the old filling and will carefully check your tooth to make sure there is no new decay. Any decayed tissue will also be removed before your dentist fills the tooth with a new, white filling.