White fillings or tooth colored fillings are the safer and more appealing alternative to conventional silver fillings or amalgam. A qualified and skilled dentist can match the exact coloring of the patient's natural teeth with a corresponding white filling. In this way, the intervention will leave no visible marks.

The fillings are produced from composite resin which revitalizes the natural appearance of the teeth. Moreover, they offer several other advantages in comparison with traditional silver fillings. First of all, the white fillings bond to the teeth surface and restore their previous strength. Amalgam or silver fillings, on the other hand, actually increase the tooth's chances of breaking. Also, the white composite filling will reduce the sensitivity to hot and cold that traditional fillings often produce.

In contrast to traditional silver fillings, the composite substance used to create the white fillings do not contain mercury which is considered by many to be more toxic than arsenic. The risks, associated with mercury leakages from traditional silver fillings has created a movement toward mercury-free dental procedures. Some people even argue that mercury fillings can cause serious psychological and health conditions including birth defects and various mental disorders. The debate on this is ongoing but patients are increasingly asking for the safer and more aesthetically pleasing white fillings.

As an additional benefit, white fillings usually require smaller reductions in the structure of the tooth than traditional silver fillings. This will drastically the amount of drilling required and generally makes the procedure less intrusive.

Silver fillings do have some advantages in terms of cost and the time needed to do the procedure. Some general practitioners may also feel uncomfortable or not have the necessary skills in working with composites. White fillings involves specific training in the new technology of dental bonding. It should also be noted that beverages with high alcoholic content have adverse effect on composite fillings. The safety and the aesthetic of the white fillings outweigh by far the benefits of traditional silver fillings.

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