What are fillings? A filling replaces part of a tooth that has been lost because of decay or through accidental damage. You may hear the dentist talk about 'composite', 'glass ionomer' and 'compomer'. These are different types of white filling.
Silver fillings or mercury fillings are known as 'amalgams'
What is involved? Your dentist will usually numb the area around the tooth with an injection, but some small fillings may not need an anaesthetic. Remove any decay, together with any old filling material, using a small, high-speed drill.
Remove any weak part of the tooth that might break later. Wash and dry the tooth by blowing water and then air onto it (the dentist will be holding something which looks like a water pistol).
If it is a white filling that you are having especially if you are concerned about having the mercury removed from your mouth, ask the dentist to apply a rubber sheet stretched over your mouth (known as a rubber dam) which will allow the amalgam filling to be removed without any of the mercury based amalgam filling going into your mouth.
White Fillings
What will my dentist do? Etch the surface to be restored with a mild acid, to help the filling stick better. Coat the surface that is to be restored with a bonding agent (which acts like a cement) and then place the filling material – this is pushed into the cavity that is to be filled and it is shaped as required.
Harden the filling by pointing a bright light at it, inside your mouth (you will see the dentist and dental nurse protecting their eyes) this is called 'curing' and trim and polish the filling as necessary.
What are the benefits? Unlike silver (amalgam) fillings, white filling material sticks to teeth and can help to strengthen the tooth.
They can be effectively used to repair front teeth that are chipped, broken, decayed or work. It can also be used as a 'veneer' to cover marks or discolouration that cleaning will not remove.
White fillings are less noticeable than silver fillings, which turn black in the mouth. White fillings come in a range of shades so they can be matched to the colour of your own teeth.
A tooth needs less preparation for a white filling than for a silver filling.
White fillings can sometimes be used in back teeth if there is not too much decay or damage.
Amalgam Fillings
What will my dentist do? Mix the amalgam filling in a machine
The nurse will pass the plastic amalgam filling to the dentist who will insert it into the cavity and plug it into the cavity with a firm pressure.
The amalgam then would be carved into the shape of the tooth and then smoothed
Amalgam fillings do not bond to the tooth, do not look like the tooth and contain mercury and given enough time can ultimately weaken the tooth, however they are a cheaper alternative to white fillings
