"White" Fillings?

I have a few silver fillings and want to know if they can be changed to match my teeth color (Be unnoticeable when I yawn or eat) If so, are they durable? Is it expensive?

"White" Fillings?
White Composite/plastic fillings are very technique sensative.


There are almost as many philosophies and schools of thought on how to properly place a white fillings as there are brands of material. That is to say they are as good as the dentist putting them in.


They don't last as long as amalgam.


They are more expensive.


there is no one regulating the quality of Placement





keeping an existing metal filling is a safer bet.





P.S.





Mr Acid Bath I don't know you, But I love you.
Reply:the white fillings are called composites. the silver or "amalgam" fillings can be taken out and replaced with the comp. the composite fillings bond better to your teeth and have less of a chance of breaking. they are slighty more than a silver filling, but if you have insurance they will cover all but the difference usually. then again if you don't actually have a cavity and just want them replaced then they might mot cover them. it's called cosmitic work and some insurances don't cover that. i hope i helped.
Reply:if the fillings really bother you as far as cosmetics go, you can get them replaced. but before you do, you should consider the possible consequences...





replacing relatively small amalgam fillings with resin/composite will look more appealing to the eye, but more sensitivity could develop. resins tend to shrink and leak over time. also, if the resin needs to be replaced, the cavity size gets larger because distinguishing between tooth and filling material is more difficult. additionally, vapors from amalgam created during its removal can be significantly more harmful than leaving the amalgam in the mouth. this is pleasing irony for me in that people who want to "remove the mercury from their mouth" expose themselves to huge amounts of mercury vapors upon removal that far exceed the amount of mercury seepage otherwise.





resins/composite are more technique sensitive in that they require several additional steps. amalgam is simply packed into the cavity preparation. resin requires a 10-15 second acid etch with 38% phosphoric acid, a bonding agent application followed by 10-15 second light cure, and incremental layering of the final composite to reduce shrinkage.





composite definitely has its place in dentistry and it is likely the future of the profession. i do not recommend removing amalgam from teeth that are perfectly healthy. removal of fillings can be risky in any case. teeth respond unpredictably to the process.





resins are more expensive because of the time it takes to properly place them in the mouth. ideally, the dentist should use a rubber dam to isolate the teeth from oral fluids and vapors. this moisture can adversely affect the quality of the filling.





so, in summary, if it a purely esthetic decision, i recommend it. if there are other unstated reasons, leave well-enough alone.
Reply:Composite fillings are durable %26amp; really not that much more than the amalgam fillings. If you have had the silver fillings in for more than 5 years (and it was under the same dental insurance), most insurance companies will pay to have them replaced. I have found almost 100% of the time that if an amalgam filling has been in the mouth for over 3 years, we will find new decay started under it (because it is not bonded into the tooth like the composites). Most of my patients have no complaints about their tooth colored fillings. Good luck.
Reply:changing fillings means that you will have to drill the old one out to put in the new one, and everytime the dentist does that the drilled-out portion will get larger. this reduces the amount of natural tooth left and greatly reduces the strength of the tooth (it could fracture when biting, depending on the severity)





silver (amalgam) fillings are much more durable than composite ('white') fillings. composites also stain more easily and are more expensive, and if the shade doesn't match properly (or if it stains later) it wouldnt really be pretty.
Reply:Some times works