“Is a white filling better than silver?”

I think so. White fillings (or composites) restore tooth strength, are repairable without removing the entire filling, and simply look better and more natural.

Both types of fillings have their advantages. White is more technique sensitive and is generally more esthetically pleasing.

I personally wouldn't say it's better, just more aesthetic. I feel at times the amalgams last longer, the silver fillings.

If all you get is a "filling" then the answer is NO, But if you get a properly bonded restoration using channeling technology which I use here in Connecticut at our Wilton office then the tooth colored restoration is a 1000% improvement and should last indefinitely.

Yes.

They both serve the same purpose, but dentists nowadays only do white fillings.

Yes! White filling are safe. Metal filling are bad because they contain mercury, which is not safe for the body.

Yes it is better. Silver fillings have mercury in them safer to do white filling.

In general amalgam or silver fillings have mercury in them which happens to produce vapors that are harmful to health now of u already have silver fillings that aren’t defective keep them but anything new should be replaced woth white fillings if needs to be changed

No one can say resin filling is better than silver, but these days, almost all dentists tend to use resin filling.

White or bonded fillings are healthier for your tooth and mouth when properly done. They are highly technique sensitive and cause problems or fail if incorrectly done. When properly done, they bond the parts of the tooth together and provide insulation for the pulp against heat and cold. Amalgam/silver fillings actually can split the tooth apart (the metal expands and contracts when exposed to heat and cold) and transmits heat and cold into the pulp of the tooth. However properly done amalgams will out last properly done white fillings. This is their only advantage.

Tooth colored fillings form chemical bond to your to your tooth. Silver has mercury mixed with it and is a metal. Most dentists prefer the resin.

Hello,

This is an age old question that comes up a lot and many people have many different answers and opinions to this question. There are many things to consider when answering which filling material is better. Most of the research has shown that silver fillings last longer on average (only by a couple of years, 15 vs 17). The preparation that goes into a silver filling usually involves taking out more tooth structure, then you would for a tooth colored filling (silver fillings will usually last longer in bigger fillings because the tooth structure is already missing).
Another thing to consider is where the filling is located. If it is on the back of your last tooth on the top of your mouth, the esthetics of having a silver filling is not nearly as bad as having it on the front of your front tooth. Another variable that is important to some is the type of material that it is makes up the filling. It has been long established that silver fillings contain mercury. For the most part this mercury is stable inside the filling (it is worse for the dentist who is taking out a silver filling because that person is vaporizing the mercury and breathing it in everyday). This may seem bad but then we have to remember tooth colored filling material usually contains BPA (the long term effects of this are still unknown). Most people still prefer the white color filling because of its esthetics and the fact that less of your tooth has to be removed.
Hope this helps.

Best of luck to you!

William F. Scott IV, DMD

Both are options for restoring a tooth. The "white" filling blends nicely with a tooth's natural shade and is esthetically pleasing. These fillings are chemically bonded and can have a long lifespan. The amalgam or "silver" fillings are mechanically bonded and the main concern for patient's is the color. Talk to your dentist about what option you prefer.