How to Get the Most Out of Your White Filling

When you think of dental fillings, does a tooth with a shiny, silver spot come to mind? Those more traditional fillings, often called “silver fillings,” have been used in dental practices since around 1895. They contain a mixture of metals, including silver, mercury, tin, and copper. This makes them an incredibly strong and durable option. However, they’re also highly visible and can trigger allergies in people with sensitivities to metals.

At Goodman Dental Center, our team relies on resin composite or “white fillings.” This option offers numerous advantages, including a more natural appearance without any metal compounds. 

How composite fillings work

We use dental fillings to repair tooth damage and fill cavities. They work by filling the affected area with a hard, protective material.

When you get a white filling, we start by numbing the affected area until you can’t feel anything. Then we remove any damage or decay. The final step involves applying the resin composite to your tooth where it molds into shape and hardens. 

Because the composite resin bonds to your tooth on a micro level, it provides even more support. In many cases, we can also apply these fillings without removing as much of your remaining tooth, which preserves more of the existing tooth structure.

Getting a white filling usually takes around an hour. And you leave our office with a completely restored tooth that doesn’t show any obvious signs of a filling.

Short-term care

When you first leave, you can expect to have tingling or numbness in your mouth where we used novocaine. And, once it wears off, you might have some mild tenderness, but this should subside within an hour or two. 

However, unlike silver fillings, a white filling completely hardens before you leave our office. That means you can eat as soon as you want without worry, but we sometimes recommend waiting a few hours until your local anesthetic wears off.

You can also start brushing and flossing immediately.

Long-term care

With proper care, your white filling should last at least 5-7 years. Furthermore, these restorations just require the same care as your natural teeth.

Avoid hard foods

You likely know that you shouldn’t chew on things like hard candy and ice, because this can crack, chip, or break your teeth. Like your natural teeth, doing these things could also damage your white filling.

Brush and floss

Brushing and flossing are the most important things you can do to maintain your oral health and your dental restorations. These daily activities can help you avoid plaque and tartar buildup, especially in areas where you may have had problems in the past.

Schedule professional cleanings

It may seem silly to visit the dentist every six months when you brush and floss daily. However, these visits provide a crucial opportunity for our team to identify dental issues or problems with your fillings at an early stage so we can repair them easily. Plus, while white fillings don’t stain easily, they can over time. A professional dental cleaning can keep them looking like new.

To learn more about white fillings, book an appointment over the phone with Goodman Dental Center today.