Porcelain White Tooth Fillings FAQ
San Diego, California
What are metal-free fillings?
Fillings are used to replace tooth tissue lost to tooth decay. Traditionally, a metal amalgam has been used, but metal looks dark gray and obviously like a filling. Today, cosmetic dental technology allows us to offer white fillings that are hard to distinguish as being fillings. The term white fillings can refer either to composite fillings or to porcelain inlays and onlays. You could have either one usually and could make that decision in consultation with Dr. Loye.
What are the advantages of white fillings?
Besides matching the color of your teeth, and being hard to detect as fillings, they offer these advantages:
- They strengthen the damaged tooth, holding it together by being bonded to it
- You can choose whether to have the quicker and easier composite fillings, done in one visit, or the slightly more durable porcelain fillings, done in two visits.
- They don’t expand and contract with the hot and cold substances placed in the mouth, as metal fillings do. This removes the risk of cracking the tooth.
- They don’t become loose or dark-looking over time, but retain their crisp whiteness nicely
Who are good candidates for white fillings?
Anyone with tooth decay is potentially a good candidate. If it should turn out that the decay has spread into the gums, that gum disease would have to be treated as part of the tooth repair. If the decay is in a front tooth, you would especially benefit from a white filling, as a metal one would mar your smile.
Can I replace my metal fillings with white ones?
Yes, certainly. We offer that procedure, and it’s one that makes a lot of our patients very happy. If many metal fillings are visible when you smile, you’ll be astounded when you see the improvement created by white fillings. Even if only one metal filling shows in your smile, it’s an unnecessary defect, and you’re welcome to make an appointment with us to remove it.
How do porcelain fillings differ from white composite fillings?
Porcelain fillings (inlays and onlays) are indirect restorations, meaning that they are created in a dental laboratory, by a lab technician trained to work with porcelain. Dr. Loye prepares your tooth for the inlay or onlay and gives it a temporary filling until the lab delivers the permanent one. Then he places the permanent one. It has been shaped to exactly fit in the cavity. He carefully positions it so that your upper and lower teeth meet smoothly (your bite), and when you and he are both comfortable, he permanently bonds it to the tooth.
In contrast, a white composite filling is a direct restoration, meaning that it is applied directly to your tooth by your dentist. No lab is involved. Dr. Loye applies small amounts of the putty-like composite, building up the filling until its surface is smooth with the rest of the tooth, and your bite is comfortable. Then he hardens it with a curing light, a process which takes only seconds.
So porcelain fillings require two visits and typically are more durable, and white composite fillings require only one. They are durable and strong, but not quite as much as porcelain.
Why are porcelain fillings called inlays and onlays?
Because an inlay is laid inside the tooth, meaning within the cusps, and an onlay is laid in the tooth, but also outside the cusps, repairing part of the outside surface. So it’s larger than an inlay. Both are hard and sculpted to fit when they arrive from the dental laboratory. Dr. Loye places them in the cavity, fine-tunes their positioning, and bonds them permanently to the tooth.
Please see our White Fillings page for more information.
We offer both porcelain inlays and onlays, and white composite fillings to residents of San Diego, California. We can also remove your old metal fillings and replace them with either porcelain or composite. So give us a call or send us an email, and we’ll set up a free personal consultation for you.
Contact Us
The Dentist that Makes You Smile!
3830 Valley Center Drive, Suite 702
San Diego, CA 92130
