White fillings
Natural-looking, tooth-coloured fillings designed to repair decay, broken teeth and failing restorations while preserving as much healthy tooth structure as possible.
What are white fillings?
White fillings are tooth-coloured restorations used to rebuild teeth that have been damaged by decay, wear, chips or failing fillings.
Most white fillings are made from a tooth-coloured material called composite. The filling material is carefully matched to the natural shade of your tooth and bonded directly to the remaining tooth structure. This allows us to restore function with a strong material while creating a result that blends naturally with your smile.
Because the material bonds to the tooth, treatment can often be carried out conservatively while retaining as much healthy natural tooth as possible.
When might you need a white filling?
White filling material can be used in many different situations, from treating a small cavity to rebuilding part of a damaged tooth.
Tooth decay
Decayed tooth structure can be carefully removed and replaced with tooth-coloured filling material to restore the tooth.
Broken fillings
Old or failing restorations can often be replaced with a new white filling where sufficient healthy tooth remains.
Chipped teeth
Smaller chips and fractures can often be rebuilt directly using tooth-coloured material matched to the surrounding tooth.
Tooth wear
In selected cases, white filling material can replace areas of tooth structure lost through wear, erosion or grinding.
Why choose a white filling?
Modern white filling materials allow us to combine a natural appearance with a conservative approach to restoring damaged teeth.
Natural appearance
White filling material can be matched closely to the colour of your natural tooth so the finished restoration blends into your smile.
Bonds to the tooth
The filling material is bonded directly to the remaining tooth structure, helping us create a secure restoration while rebuilding the natural shape of the tooth.
Preserves healthy tooth
Because the material bonds to the tooth, we can often take a conservative approach and retain more healthy tooth structure. White fillings are also less likely to contribute to fractures of the surrounding tooth over time in the way that traditional silver fillings sometimes can.
Mercury-free
White fillings do not contain amalgam and provide a tooth-coloured alternative to traditional silver fillings.
Strong & durable
Modern white filling materials can provide reliable restorations for both front and back teeth when used in appropriate situations.
Often one visit
Most straightforward white fillings can be placed directly in the mouth during a single appointment.
A natural-looking restoration
White filling material can be carefully shaped, layered and polished so that a damaged tooth looks and functions naturally again.
Before 
After What about silver fillings?
Silver fillings, also known as amalgam fillings, have been used in dentistry for many years. At Triangle Dental, however, we now use tooth-coloured restorative materials for the vast majority of fillings.
In most situations we prefer white fillings because they can be matched to the tooth, bond directly to the remaining tooth structure and often allow us to retain more healthy natural tooth. Large silver fillings can also contribute to fractures of the surrounding tooth over time.
There are occasionally situations where a silver filling may still be considered the most appropriate option, but this is increasingly uncommon. Your dentist will assess the individual tooth and recommend the restorative material they believe will provide the best outcome.
Questions about white fillings
How long do white fillings last?
White fillings last around eight years on average, although they can last considerably longer. How long a filling lasts will depend on factors such as its size and position, your bite, oral hygiene and whether you grind or clench your teeth.
Are white fillings suitable for back teeth?
Yes. Modern white filling materials can be used successfully on many back teeth. Very heavily damaged teeth, however, may benefit from greater protection with an onlay or crown rather than a large filling.
Can I replace an old silver filling with a white one?
Often this is possible, but we would first assess the tooth and the existing filling. If the tooth is heavily weakened or fractured, a different restoration such as an onlay or crown may provide a more predictable solution.
Does having a white filling hurt?
Local anaesthetic can be used when required so that treatment is comfortable. Some smaller restorations may need little or no anaesthetic depending on the depth and location of the filling.
Can a white filling repair a chipped tooth?
Yes. Smaller chips and fractures can often be rebuilt directly with white filling material. Larger fractures may require a stronger restoration such as an onlay or crown.
Will the filling match the colour of my tooth?
White filling material is available in a wide range of shades and can be carefully selected and layered to blend naturally with the surrounding tooth.
Are white fillings better than silver fillings?
In most situations, a white filling is our preferred option. It is tooth-coloured, bonds directly to the tooth and often allows us to retain more healthy natural tooth structure. White fillings are also less likely to contribute to fractures of the surrounding tooth over time in the way that large silver fillings sometimes can.
There are occasionally situations where another restorative material may be more appropriate. Your dentist will recommend the option they believe will provide the best outcome for the individual tooth.
What if the tooth is too damaged for a filling?
If too much tooth structure has been lost, a filling may not provide enough protection. In those situations we may recommend an onlay or crown, and we'll explain the options before treatment.
Think you may need a filling?
Book an appointment and we'll assess the tooth, explain what has happened and recommend the most appropriate way to restore it.