$\"Shreveport$ For years, dentists used a silver amalgam material in dental fillings. Fortunately, advances in dentistry have led to the development of tooth-colored composite filling that is durable and natural looking. Tooth-colored fillings are the best cosmetic choice because their color blends perfectly with the shade of your teeth. From tooth-colored fillings to porcelain veneers and beyond, our team of dentists at Shreveport Bossier Family Dental Care offers all of the latest advances in the dental field. Our expert Shreveport cosmetic dentists can replace your unsightly metal fillings to restore the beauty of your smile. Continue reading to learn more about the benefits of tooth-colored fillings over traditional metal fillings.

Traditional Metal Fillings

Traditional metal fillings are noticeable; gold and silver fillings stand out because their dark color contrasts so greatly from the light color of the tooth. In addition to their appearance, gold and silver fillings have some other downsides. Here is a general overview:

Gold Fillings: Gold makes for a durable filling but the material is expensive. The placement of gold fillings also requires two dental visits, rather than one. Galvanic shock, rare but possible, may occur with the use of gold fillings; a gold filling placed next to a silver filling, combined with saliva, can create a current, resulting in a sharp pain or shock.
Silver Fillings: Silver fillings, also called amalgam fillings, are the most common. They are less expensive than gold and tooth-colored fillings and long lasting. However, silver fillings do have some shortcomings. Over time, silver fillings can turn the treated tooth a grayish color. Silver fillings can also cause damage to the teeth. Teeth with silver fillings are prone to cracking and fracturing for a couple of reasons. First, more of the tooth must be removed to allow room for the silver filling, thereby weakening the tooth\’s structure. Second, silver tends to expand and contract in the presence of hot and cold. This contraction and expansion can result in cracks and cause the filling to fall out.

Tooth-Colored Fillings

Tooth-colored fillings are becoming the filling of choice for many patients. Tooth-colored fillings are typically made of composite resin or porcelain ceramic. Both materials can be shaded to perfectly match any tooth, seamlessly blending with the surrounding teeth. This means no one will be able to tell you have fillings!

Composite Resin: Composite resin is a synthetic material. Fillings made of composite resin are bonded to the tooth. Less of the tooth needs to be removed for composite resin fillings, which helps to maintain the strength of the tooth.
Ceramic Fillings: Ceramic fillings are made of porcelain. Porcelain is an excellent filling material because it is resistant to staining and extremely long lasting. Most porcelain fillings have a life expectancy of 15 years or more.

Tooth-colored dental fillings are not your only option to beautifying your smile. For those in Shreveport, porcelain veneers, dental implants, and teeth whitening can be performed to enhance the appearance of our patients\’ smiles. Contact Shreveport Bossier Family Dental Care today. Our friendly, experienced team of dentists are happy to develop a treatment plan just for you.