White Fillings in Spokane, WA

Are you unhappy with unattractive metal fillings? Then white fillings will give you a more natural and beautiful tooth restoration in Spokane. You don’t have to live with unattractive and uncomfortable metal fillings anymore. Now we can replace old fillings with strong and natural-looking materials. And all your new fillings can blend in beautifully with your teeth. These materials can repair teeth in the front or back of your mouth.

If you dislike the way they affect your taste, make your teeth sensitive, or cause other symptoms please call 509-532-1111 today for an appointment with our Spokane cosmetic dentists, Dr. Ken or Dr. Marnie Collins, at Collins Dentistry & Aesthetics.

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Benefits of White Fillings

White fillings are a great advancement in dental restorations. They are better for your smile for many reasons. White fillings:

  • Blend in with natural teeth
  • Bond to natural teeth to create a tight seal
  • Expand and contract more similar to natural teeth
  • Reduce sensitivity to heat and cold
  • Can be used in smaller cavities and require less drilling
  • Can restore strength when used for large cavities

The cosmetic benefit is the most obvious. Instead of having silver fillings that often turn black, you get beautiful fillings that can perfectly match your natural teeth. Amalgam fillings are simply jammed into the hole in your tooth, but white fillings bond to your tooth, creating a tight seal that protects your teeth.

Metal and your natural tooth materials respond very differently to heat and cold. Metal amalgam expands and contracts rapidly with temperature changes. When it expands under heat, it can put pressure on the tooth, which can cause cracks or cause sensitivity. And when it’s cold, the filling can shrink, creating a space around it for liquids and bacteria to penetrate. Plus, the metal conducts temperature changes deep into the tooth, making your teeth sensitive. Metal amalgam fillings require a relatively large cavity to be placed. This means that a dentist either has to wait to restore a tooth or do a lot of drilling. Both put your tooth at more risk. White fillings can fit in small places, so there’s less drilling and less risk.

Finally, some white fillings can restore strength to a tooth that’s been damaged, which can prevent it from fracturing in the future.

Two Types of White Fillings

Not all white fillings are the same. There are different options for replacing old metal amalgam fillings or placing new attractive fillings.

Composite fillings are made of a plastic resin with ceramic inclusions for strength. These fillings start as a putty that can be spread into the cavity. Then they are hardened with a curing light. Once hard, they are polished to be as smooth as your tooth enamel. These fillings are inexpensive and can be completed in a single visit. They’re good for small cavities.

Ceramic fillings are custom-made at a lab similar to veneers or crowns. The filling is bonded to the natural tooth once it’s been manufactured to precisely fit your cavity. This type of filling is more expensive and requires two visits to complete. However, they are stronger and more stain resistant. They are recommended for large cavities and when replacing old metal amalgam fillings.

Peace of Mind

Because amalgam fillings contain mercury, many people have grown concerned about the potential negative health impacts that may be related to traditional metal fillings. Since mercury is extremely toxic, even a small amount has the ability to damage our internal organs. For years, researchers have studied the effects of mercury-based fillings to see if they pose a threat to human health. Although experts haven’t definitively linked amalgam fillings to medical problems; researchers have developed a convincing case that suggests these old-style fillings may pose at least some risk to our health.

Because they want to have peace of mind that comes with knowing their mouths are 100 percent free from toxic substances, many patients choose to replace their traditional metal fillings with white fillings, which contain no mercury.

Better Fillings in Spokane

Whether you are concerned about the potential health impact related to your existing metal fillings or just hate their appearance; filling upgrades are the answer you’ve been looking for.

If you’re interested in a consultation with Drs. Ken & Marnie Collins, please contact them online or call their office at 509-532-1111 in Spokane. You can also make an appointment online.

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Thursday: 7am - 2pm
Friday - Sunday: Closed

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