There are a few options available to provide a tooth-coloured filling to avoid or replace a silver amalgam one. These can be direct – placed in a single visit, or indirect (placed over two visits). Indirect restorations can be made of porcelain and are useful if the cavity is large and the tooth needs a bit more strength.
Advantages of white restorations over silver amalgam ones:
- The white restoration can be shade matched to the tooth colour
- The digital technology used to provide indirect restorations allows for a highly accurate fit
- The cavities can be smaller due to the advantage of bonding to the tooth – amalgam restorations do not bond and therefore rely on undercut cavities for retention
- Amalgam fillings can cause staining over time
