Once, the only option available to a dentist whose patient needed a filling was to use metal amalgam. This has changed and there are many more aesthetically-pleasing options available. At Harley Street Dental Clinic our team have a variety of ways in which they can replace old metal amalgam fillings with a tooth-coloured alternative.
There is, of course, nothing new about white fillings – they have been around for many years. However, for a long time they were not thought of as being as strong and durable as their metal counterparts. Thanks to advances in both materials used and techniques, white fillings are now considered almost as strong as metal ones.
In the modern world people are increasingly considering the aesthetic appearance of their smile as well as the functionality of any required restorations. Every dentist is now seeing an increasing demand for white or tooth-coloured filling alternatives.
At Harley Street Dental Clinic we embrace advances in techniques and technology, and believe that everybody deserves a smile to be proud of. The procedure to replace metal fillings with white fillings is straightforward and, in most cases, requires a single appointment and just a local anaesthetic.
If you come into our Harley Street practice to have metal fillings replaced, your dentist will ensure your tooth is numb and will remove your old filling. After checking no more decay has occurred (and removing any decayed areas they find) they will then prepare the cavity and place a white filling, which is made from a very hard composite material. This filling will be able to withstand the forces generated by biting and chewing over a considerable period of time.
Where additional strength is required (for a larger filling, or for a back tooth) your dentist may recommend using onlays or inlays, which are a step between a filling and a crown.