Many people hate the look of the mercury amalgam ‘silver’ fillings and this is where composite, or ‘white’ fillings come in. They are a mixture of a tooth-coloured plastic material filled with finely ground glass. Since they bond to the tooth, composite fillings restore most of the original strength and natural appearance of the tooth. The expansion and contraction of a silver filling can weaken a tooth and lead to breakage. Broken teeth can be very expensive to fix, so composite fillings can save you money in the long run.

Composite fillings provide good durability for small to medium sized repairs. The dentist removes less of the natural tooth for a composite filling than a silver filling. For teeth that have a lot of chewing to do, like molars, composite fillings are less resistant to wear than silver fillings. Your dentist will be able to advise you on the most appropriate choice of filling for the type of repair needed.