Are there any health advantages of white cavity fillings vs. silver fillings?
Health advantages- not that I can think of…. People used to be afraid of the mercury in the amalgam (silver) fillings but there is nothing to be afraid of. It can’t hurt you. There are some non- health advantages to each, though. The silver (amalgam) is stronger and wears better. Most dentists won’t put a composite (white) filling in a posterior tooth (molar) because it won’t be able to withstand the force of chewing. The white ones look better, as I’m sure you’ve noticed and can be matched to the shade of your teeth. (If you are considering whitening your teeth you should do it BEFORE they place the filling or it won’t match later) They are usually only placed on anterior (front) teeth. A word of advice: If you need this filling in a front tooth, don’t worry about the durability of a composite. They are still very strong even though they aren’t as strong as amalgam, and they look SO much better when you smile! I hope this helped….