Galleria Dental Aesthetics | Dental Blog
Northern Virginia, including Arlington and Alexandria
Archive for December, 2010
How Long Do White Fillings Last?
Thursday, December 30th, 2010
White fillings have been the topic of various research studies whose goal was to determine how long white fillings last. Unfortunately, the outcomes of these studies are inconsistent, and some study groups were so small that they did not effectively represent the longevity of white fillings. Our experience at Galleria Dental Aesthetics shows that white fillings can and do last as long as metal fillings, if not longer, and offer other unique benefits as well.
All fillings should last close to ten years when properly cared for. Even amalgam fillings can fail after only a few years if exposed to significant temperature extremes, such as chewing ice, eating very hot foods or having very cold drinks. This is because metal, unlike white filling materials, expands and contracts and can either break the bond with the tooth or increase the chance of a crack in a fragile tooth wall.
Dr. Lee, Dr. Oh and Dr. Mortazie are committed to providing the highest quality dental care for their northern Virginia patients. They have determined that white fillings offer safer and more effective options, and have chosen not to use silver/mercury or amalgam fillings for any of their patients.
When you need quality dental care in Tysons Corner or Alexandria,Virginia choose white fillings, please contact Galleria Dental Aesthetics’ cosmetic dentists serving patients in the northern Virginia area.
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What Are The Benefits of White Fillings?
Monday, December 27th, 2010
Dr. Lee, Dr. Oh and Dr. Mortazie are convinced that white fillings are superior in every way to silver/mercury, or metal fillings. Because the benefits of white fillings are so well documented we have eliminated metal fillings from our practice completely. White fillings, also called tooth-colored fillings, are made of composite resin, the same material used in tooth-bonding procedures.
Benefits of White Fillings
Composite resin white fillings have many benefits. These are just some of the reasons our experienced cosmetic dentists have chosen to use only white fillings:
• The ability to fill smaller openings with composite resin fillings than with metal fillings, so less drilling is necessary and more of the natural tooth structure is retained
• Bonding a filling to the tooth makes the tooth stronger
• Can usually be used for both front and back teeth
• Are matched to your natural tooth color and appear invisible
• Can last longer than metal fillings with good oral care
• Do not expand or contract as metal fillings do
• No concerns over metal allergies often associated with metal fillings
• Cosmetically, white fillings give you a more attractive smile
To learn more about how you can benefit from white fillings from our Northern Virginia cosmetic dentists, please contact Galleria Dental Aesthetics, serving patients in Tysons Corner, Alexandria and surrounding communities.
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Are White Fillings as Strong as Metal?
Friday, December 24th, 2010
Cosmetic dentistry procedures each have their own advantages and disadvantages. Sometimes concepts, such as the strength of a filling can be a bit misleading. The cosmetic dentists at Galleria Dental Aesthetics have concluded from their research and experience that white fillings are as strong as metal fillings and are far superior to them, overall. White fillings are made from tooth-bonding composite resin or ceramic dental porcelain. Metal fillings are made from a silver/mercury combination.
Comparing the Strength of White Fillings to Metal Fillings
While the metal used for silver/mercury fillings is harder than composite resin, hardness does not mean strength or better function as a filling material. Where a composite resin filling may not show promise for withstanding bite pressure, white fillings made of porcelain inlays or onlays are an ideal alternative.
Factors that Affect the Strength of Fillings
Composite resin fillings do not require as much drilling and removal of the tooth as metal fillings. This leaves more tooth structure intact, which means a stronger tooth that is less likely to chip, crack, or break.
Composite resin fillings do not expand contract when exposed to heat or cold as metal fillings do. Metal fillings do expand contract and can eventually form cracks in healthy tooth structure.
Composite resin fillings bond to the tooth better versus metal fillings which allow bacteria to seep between the filling and the tooth. This is a perfect opportunity for decay-causing bacteria to enter and cause more damage to the remaining natural tooth.
To learn more about the advantages of white fillings from experienced cosmetic dentists in Tysons Corner, Alexandria and Northern Virginia, please contact Galleria Dental Aesthetics for a personal consultation.
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Questions About White Fillings
Wednesday, December 22nd, 2010
Are white fillings only done as a cosmetic dentistry procedure?
While white fillings offer aesthetically pleasing cosmetic enhancements, we at Galleria Dental Aesthetics offer only white fillings to restore, repair or enhance our patient’s teeth. We do not use silver/mercury or amalgam fillings at all. Our cosmetic dentists believe white fillings offer far more benefits with none of the concerns of silver/mercury or amalgam fillings.
Is there a difference between white fillings, tooth bonding and tooth-colored fillings?
The terms white fillings and tooth-colored fillings refer to using composite resin to fill cavities in the same way amalgam fillings were used. Tooth bonding is a broader use of composite resin and includes building up the surface of teeth to reshape them, or whiten them by creating a veneer. Composite resin can be colored to match your teeth for any of these purposes.
Are there advantages to using white fillings?
The advantages of white fillings are numerous. One of the biggest advantages is that they do not expand contract when exposed to hot or cold foods. The composite resin used for white fillings also works well for front and back teeth as they can be colored to match your natural tooth color White fillings have superior strength as well as adhesive properties which bond the tooth together unlike the old silver/mercury fillings. For more information, please read our page titled Tooth-Colored Fillings.
What do white fillings cost?
White fillings are 25% to 30% more expensive than amalgam fillings. The composite resin materials cost a little more than metal filling materials. White fillings also take a little longer to apply because your cosmetic dentist must do more work to prepare your tooth for this filling, and must also spend additional time shaping and contouring the filling. However, the advantages far outweigh the additional expense.
To learn more about white fillings in Northern Virginia, please contact us at Galleria Dental Aesthetics for a personal evaluation by Dr. Lee, Dr. Oh or Dr. Mortazie.
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