Non-Mercury (White) Fillings

Natural looking white fillings are created to match the color of your teeth while functioning the same way a metal amalgam (silver-mercury filling) filling would. White fillings are used to correct the same damage or decay a metal amalgam filling would correct, but white fillings provide a more natural look.

White fillings are placed by first removing the decayed portion of the tooth. Then, the dentist will etch the tooth so that the white filling material will bond to the tooth better. Then a bonding agent is brushed onto the tooth, followed by several layers of the composite white filling material. Once the decayed tooth is filled with the white filling material, a special light is used to harden and bond the white filling to your tooth. After the tooth has been hardened, it is polished and shaped to match the rest of your teeth and your bite..

In addition to having a more natural looking filling, white fillings are chosen over metal amalgam fillings because of the potentially toxic mercury found in the metal amalgam. Dr. Charles Flume has been practicing mercury free dentistry for over 15 years by placing ceramic, composite and gold restorations that are superior in many ways to amalgam. Also, unlike amalgam metal these ceramic restorations expand and contract the same way as your natural teeth.

When the size of the filling is large, it is recommended that the tooth be restored with a ceramic onlay rather than the composite bonding used in white fillings.

Click here to see a video about the toxicity of mercury fillings.

In order to have your next tooth reparation performed with a white filling, or to have your old metal amalgam fillings replaced with white composite fillings or onlays.

Schedule an initial consult at Waterloo Heights Dental Center today.