Most people have fillings of one sort or another but today, because we are much more conscious of our smile, we can choose a natural looking alternative – the composite or tooth-coloured filling.
A composite resin is a tooth-coloured plastic mixture filled with glass (silicon dioxide) first introduced in the 1960s. Originally only used for front teeth because of their softer nature, modern improvements to their composition make them generically suitable today.
Composite fillings are more difficult to place than silver fillings so may take your dentist longer to complete and because they are considered to be a cosmetic treatment, they are not usually available on the NHS on back teeth and must be paid for.
The main advantage of composite fillings is their aesthetic appeal. The main disadvantage was their life expectancy. In the past, white fillings were considered less long lasting than silver amalgam fillings but we now use new materials with properties comparable to silver amalgam, and these are proving to be very successful. The life expectancy of your composite filling can depend on the depth of cavity and its position in the mouth; your dentist is best positioned to advise you.
