White Composite Fillings To The Rescue
Our tooth-colored composite fillings are an ideal alternative to metal fillings. They don't stand out like silver fillings do; composite fillings are hardly noticeable. They also won't make the tooth appear to darken as the filling gets old and turns black. While we call composite fillings white fillings, our dentists can prepare the composite so it matches your child's natural tooth color as closely as possible. When he or she grins or laughs, no one will notice their fillings.
When your child gets a composite filling, there's less drilling involved, which all children appreciate. The composite material starts out flexible and bonds to the tooth so there's no need to remove as much of the natural tooth structure so the tooth is stronger. The bonding also eliminates the microscopic space left between the filling and the tooth. Over time, bacteria can build up under a metal filling causing deep decay and pain if the decay reaches the nerve.
White composite fillings contain glass particles and resin while silver fillings contain a mixture of metals, including copper, silver, tin and up to 50 percent elemental mercury. According to the FDA, children under age six shouldn't have metal fillings because they may be more susceptible to mercury vapor. There are no known health or safety issues associated with composite fillings for children or adults; they are a safe choice for your child.
Talk to your child's dentist about whether white composite fillings are the right choice. We can also replace metal fillings with less noticeable composite fillings.
