Back teeth fillings white or silver?

Answer 1

All of the physical properties that matter - compressive strength, shear strength, tensile strength - are now better in the white fillings than in the silver fillings. I use them whenever possible for that reason alone. The fact that they look so much better is merely a bonus.

The thing is, the white fillings demand a very good technique. If the site gets wet, the filling is doomed to an early failure. Many dentists say that white fillings are no good just because they have not learned how to do them properly. I have been doing white fillings in back teeth for over 20 years now and I see that MOST of them are still in service. This means I have seen white fillings serve for 10, 15 or 20 years with NO PROBLEM. This means it must be possible.

If I have a situation where I can NOT place a proper white filling, I will recommend silver. If I have a situation where half of the tooth is already silver, I won't bother with a white filling. If there is that much filling material on a tooth and the patient wants a white tooth, I recommend a crown anyhow.

Answer 2

Picki girl is 100% right. However, composite (white) material has been continously improving over the last several years. Initially the problem with this material was that it caused teeth to fracture...without going into too much physics...the hole drilled into your teeth to place a composite filling is different than that drilled for an amalgam. The composite filling bonds differently to teeth and used to cause a type of pulling effect towards the center over time..this caused some teeth to fracture. Improvements have been made in this area and composites are almost as long lasting as amalgam (silver). Gold is the best material (most expensive too) in the mouth. The mercury thing is just a complete wives tale...more research on this myth has been done than any other dental research in the last 20 years...and there is absolutely no proof whatsoever of mercury entering the body through amalgam fillings.

So in answer to your question...your molars would do best with gold, secondly with amalgam and thirdly with composite. As composite technology improves it may become better than amalgam however, that time hasn't yet arrived.

Answer 3

I totally agree that white looks so much better than silver, but for back teeth it isn't practical. I had all my back fillings done white years ago, but white is not strong enough to cope with all the chewing the molars have to deal with. At that time, silver fillings were on the N.H.S. but you had to pay for white; I couldn't afford to keep it up. Sadly, I changed to silver again, but they have lasted. And I don't think that it is dangerous these days, although I do still worry about some of my older fillings.
If you can get the white done for free, or low cost, go with that, but be prepared to replace often!

Answer 4

Most dental offices only use white material unless they are filling a huge part of your tooth. If you really wnat superior materials used and long lasting fillings ask for gold. It lasts for about 35 years (10-15 for white, and 20 for silver), will not wear down your other teeth (like white ones can) and is an "inert" metal, which means that your body almost certainly will not have a reation to it. There is alot of fuss about silver fillings, but the reality of it is that there is very miniscule amounts of mercury in them, and chances are if you eat fish out of the local lake you are getting more mercury in one serving of fish than you would in a lifetime of chewing on silver fillings. Also it is interesting to note that there are many other "poisonous" chemicals that are used every day (in controlled amounts) by the medical profession and no one ever questions that. Warfarin for example is a poison very effective in killing rats, but also a perscription medication helpful to people suffering from heart disease. Silver fillings have their benefits such as cost and longevity, not too mention that they are the least likely to be sensitive after being placed in a tooth. Ask your dentist to recommend the best material to use in your particular case.

Answer 5

WHITE,,,, the silver puts way to much mercury into your body, which in time effects your brain. Check it out online.

Google--amalgam fillings.
You'll get the true scoop on things.

Answer 6

Silver, they're stronger on teeth that take a lot of pressure, and they last longer. And if they're in the back no-one will see them anyway.

Answer 7

i'd get the white regardless of if no you will locate them. My dentist instructed me that once some years the silver ones start to interrupt down and create greater issues. then you definately would desire to get them filled lower back. I even have had white ones and that they paintings and postpone properly.

Answer 8

Definately white. When you laugh with your mouth open its not nice to see silver

Answer 9

Silver is cheaper but white look nicer...really your choice...and depends if you have coverage..me I go with Silver as I dont have any coverage.

Answer 10

white, i have one white filling and several silver ones and they just look unsightly. sometimes i forget the white one is a filling!