White Fillings in Sterling Heights, MI
In recent history, when you had a cavity, your only solution was to ruin the beauty of your tooth by staining it with a silver-toned amalgam filling. Now, you have better options when faced with tooth decay. At our practice, we offer tooth-colored composite fillings that will look and feel like your natural teeth without disrupting their charm.
The Ins & Outs of White Fillings
Fillings can restore a tooth that has been decayed, cracked, or broken. The procedure is minimally invasive and typically takes less than 30 minutes. While white fillings are durable, they’re not permanent and will need to be replaced with normal wear and tear.
Fillings can correct a variety of dental problems, including:
- Worn teeth
- Chipped teeth
- Decayed teeth
- Gaps between teeth
- Broken or cracked teeth
The White Filling Treatment
The process of receiving a white filling is simple and can be completed in a few steps. First and foremost, Dr. Hindi wants to ensure your comfort. She’ll start by numbing your tooth with a local anesthetic. Once your tooth is numb, she’ll remove the decay and replace it with a white filling.
Finally, your tooth will be polished and she’ll provide you with aftercare instructions to ensure proper healing and avoid damaging your new beautiful filling. It’s normal to feel some sensitivity for a few days following the treatment. Once it has fully healed, your tooth will look and feel like new.
Frequently Asked Questions
White fillings are strong — in fact, they’re just as strong as amalgam fillings. They can withstand the wear and tear of your daily life and you don’t have to worry about what you eat. White fillings also require no special care beyond daily brushing, flossing, and six-month dental appointments.
While white fillings are strong and fracture-resistant, they usually have to be replaced more often than amalgam fillings. They generally last up to seven years, or around half the lifespan of an amalgam filling.
No, composite fillings can’t be whitened. The resin is resistant to staining, so they won’t easily become discolored, but they also don’t respond to whitening agents.
If you’d like to have a teeth whitening treatment, we recommend doing it before you get a composite filling. That way, your new filling can be matched to the tooth color you’re happy with. Any existing composite fillings you have may stand out after whitening because they’ll be a different color.
Composite fillings are placed in layers. Eventually, these layers will completely fill the cavity and look natural. After each layer is placed, your dentist will use ultraviolet light to seal the resin in place. The light helps the resin to harden faster.
Due to the application of layers, composite fillings can take longer to place than other types of fillings. However, they’re a popular choice because they’re matched to your tooth color and look completely natural.
Composite and amalgam fillings each have their advantages and disadvantages. Amalgam fillings are the traditional silver-toned cavity treatment, so naturally, their main disadvantage is that they stand out. But amalgam fillings are very strong and last a long time.
Composite fillings are popular because they match your tooth color, so your fillings won’t be noticeable. While these fillings are strong, they generally don’t last as long as amalgam fillings and will have to be replaced more often.
We Care About Your Fillings
When you’re in need of a filling, we can remove your tooth decay and replace it with a beautiful natural-looking filling. At Sterling Heights Dentistry, we strive to restore your teeth and preserve their beauty so they’ll last a lifetime. Contact our office to schedule an appointment by calling (586) 939-5151 or fill out the contact form and we’ll get back to you soon.