Tag Archives: White Composite Fillings

Porcelain Veneers

Filling or Veneers to close a gap in teeth?

I’m going soon to the dentist to get fillings in to close two gaps in my front teeth. Fillings are obviously the much cheaper option, but would they be as strong and effective as veneers? Would they last as long? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks, Jeff

Dear Jeff,

Using composite filling material to close the spaces between your teeth may work, however aesthetically may not look as nice and natural as dental veneers will. Composite fillings will discolor overtime and the attempt to close the spaces will become noticeable therefore you may find yourself replacing the fillings several times throughout your life. Having this type of dental treatment completed to close your spaces may make your teeth look bulkier and not as uniform. Dental veneers are made of porcelain and are much stronger then composite filling material, therefore can last for years without discoloring or chipping away. We recommend you have a consultation with a dentist that has a lot of training in cosmetic dentistry. Discuss your concerns and if you prefer to have the dental veneers and our concerned about the cost, ask if they will work with you on some type of payment plan.

Post courtesy of Dr. Malone, Lafayette Louisiana Cosmetic Dentist

 

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I chipped a front tooth, can it be grow back?

I chipped one of my front teeth, but it still has the root and is a minor chip. I was wondering if adult teeth can be re-grown.

Thanks Aaron

Dear Aaron,

Unfortunately teeth that become chipped or broken do not grow back. If the chip is small your dentist will most likely place a white colored filling best known as dental bonding where the chip was and make your tooth look natural again. Sometimes when chips are so small cosmetic contouring is a good option. This is accomplished by taking a drill or laser and reshaping your chipped tooth. Usually when this procedure is done minor reshaping on your other front teeth is required as well to make your smile look more uniform. This is a very inexpensive quick procedure that requires no anesthetic.

The longer you let your chipped tooth go untreated the more prone you are to chipping the tooth even more with the possibility of having to have a porcelain veneer or porcelain crown placed. These two types of permanent restorations are more expensive than dental bonding and cosmetic contouring as well as take a longer time in the chair and more trips to the dental office. We recommend you consult your dentist to see what treatment option is best for you.

Post courtesy of Dr. Malone, Lafayette Louisiana Cosmetic Dentist

 

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My wisdom teeth need fillings–what kind should I get?

Years ago, I let my former dentist talk me into white fillings, and have had cause to regret it ever since. My teeth became very sensitive, and over time I have had to have all those filling replaced by a different dentist. Two of the teeth my former dentist treated were my wisom teeth, and now the white filling material has completely worn away. The teeth where the fillings used to be look awful. They are yellow and ugly, and it makes me angry all over again that I let that dentist talk me into white fillings. Now my new dentist wants to use the same fillings to fix the problem! She says she does not even place silver fillings anymore.

Do I need to find ANOTHER new dentist? Why in world would she want to use something that clearly doesn’t work for me?

Edith in Tulsa, OK

Dear Edith,

The white fillings are not the problem. The technique your former dentist used to place them was the problem.

Many dentists have gone “mercury free”, meaning they no longer place silver amalgam fillings. Silver amalgam fillings are a source of ongoing controversy in the dental field, and more and more people in the general population are also aware of this controversy. Silver amalgam fillings are more than 50% mercury by weight, a known neuro-toxin. Recent studies are inconclusive about whether or not the small amount of mercury vapor released during chewing is harmful to the body, but many people are opting to err on the side of caution and just avoid them altogether. As an additional factor, properly placed white fillings are without question the better choice from an aesthetic standpoint.

Amalgam fillings require more of the tooth structure to be removed, and the material of the filling actually weakens your teeth. The only real advantage of amalgam fillings is that they are easier to place than white fillings, and the technique to place them is throughly covered in dental schools. Most dental schools do NOT require graduating dentists to know how to properly place a white composite filling.

If your new dentist only places white composite fillings, then chances are good that she is skilled at it. To put your mind at ease, ask her about her training for this kind of procedure. Placing white composite fillings requires strict adherence to the proper protocol. If your former dentist had followed this protocol, your teeth would not have been sensitive.

If you are satisfied that she has the proper training, then I think you can confidently go ahead with the white fillings in your wisdom teeth. The material of the filling bonds with your teeth to actually make the overall structure of your tooth stronger, and will serve to seal the tooth. White composite fillings also do not convey heat and cold the way amalgam fillings do, and so are more comfortable.