White fillings vs silver amalgam
Quick answer
Are white fillings better than silver fillings?
For most teeth, modern white (composite) fillings are the better choice: they bond to the tooth, need less healthy tooth removed and match the tooth colour.
Silver amalgam is still strong and long-lasting, but its use is being phased down and in the UK it is not normally used for children under 15 or pregnant or breastfeeding women. White fillings at York House Dental Practice in West Byfleet start from £175.
What you need to know
Composite is placed in layers and hardened with a light, so the dentist can keep the cavity small. Amalgam needs undercuts to hold it in place, which removes more tooth. Very large fillings on back teeth may be better restored with an onlay or crown than either material.
Is amalgam dangerous? Current evidence does not show that intact amalgam fillings harm health, and drilling out sound fillings releases more mercury vapour than leaving them. We do not recommend replacing healthy amalgam purely for health reasons.
Replacing old amalgam makes sense when it is cracked, leaking, has decay around it, or you want a more natural appearance. See white fillings in West Byfleet and our price list.
Last reviewed: by Dr Kaveet Patel, Principal Dentist
