Are white fillings as good as metal or gold? How long do tooth colored fillings last?
There has been much scientific research to show that metallic fillings are much stronger than composite fillings (the usual material white fillings are made from). I think it would be an undisputed fact that amalgam and gold have superior physical properties when it comes to compressional force. White fillings when done properly can last for a very long time, but good case selection is required. A large white filling in a high load bearing area may fail because of the forces that it has to withstand. in this case a crown or onlay/inlay (can be made of many materials) may be better than a white filling. Crowns and onlays/inlays tend to be better than fillings of any sort. The main disadvantage of metallic ones is that they don’t match your tooth colour very well. but they tend to withstand the forces applied where white fillings would fail (in cases where a crown may be required but a filling is placed instead) There are many peer reviewed scientific articles in reputable dental journal
