Silver Fillings Vs. Tooth Colored Fillings

Getting Tooth Decay on the Ropes

You do your best to fight tooth decay on your own, but sometimes a cavity sneaks up and throws a sucker punch.  Now you have to get a filling and want to prevent further damage, so you need a heavyweight champion in your corner.  But choosing your fighter is a challenge; will a silver filling or a tooth colored filling be best in this match-up?

The Contenders

• “Silver” fillings are actually a combination of different metals, including silver, tin, copper, and mercury.  They are accurately called “amalgam” fillings.  This type of filling has been used in dentistry for more than a century.  They have a silver, metallic look.

• “Tooth Colored” fillings are made of resin composite, including plastic compounds and ceramics.  They are accurately called “composite” fillings.  This type of filling has been used in dentistry for more than 20 years, being strong enough to use on back teeth for over 10 years.  They have a natural, tooth colored look.

Strengths and Weaknesses

• Silver, or amalgam, fillings are easily manipulated to fill the space left after your dentist removes the cavity, or decay.  The filling itself is very strong and long lasting.  Unlike tooth colored fillings, silver fillings can be placed on wet surfaces.  These silver fillings are markedly less expensive than their tooth colored counterparts and are more readily covered by insurance companies when placed on back teeth.  However, due to the obvious metallic coloring, these fillings are very conspicuous.  Weather changes can cause expansion of the metal resulting in cracking of the tooth and enhancing the possibility of further decay.  Because an x-ray cannot penetrate the metal, this additional decay is more difficult to detect.

• Tooth colored, or composite, fillings are more aesthetically functional than are silver fillings.  They can be colored to closely match the surrounding teeth.  With advances in dentistry, tooth colored fillings are now strong enough to place on back teeth.  Because this type of filling bonds well with the tooth, it creates an overall stronger surface.  Furthering decay is more easily detected on a tooth with a natural colored filling.  However, tooth colored fillings are more expensive and not as universally covered by insurance plans as are metal fillings.  They require a dry surface for bonding, which is difficult.  They generally do not last as long as their silver colored counterparts. 

When choosing your corner for the main event, bear in mind that your opponent is the cavity itself and either contender is going to defend your tooth.  The best choice is the one you make with your dentist.  In no time you will have your cavity down for the count!