Tooth Colored Fillings
Common Questions

Natural-looking & Metal-free

What are metal-free fillings?

Metal-free fillings are made of porcelain, rather than silver amalgam. They are color matched to your natural tooth.

What is wrong with metal fillings?

Besides being unsightly, silver amalgam fillings contain mercury. The mercury causes them to expand and contract which can damage you tooth. Over time the tooth can decay, become weakened and crumble from cracking, and it can be very painful. Silver amalgam filling can also make your tooth sensitive to hot and cold foods and beverages. The potential health risks of mercury poisoning are a concern as well.

I already have several old, discolored fillings. Can I have them replaced with porcelain?

Yes. We can replace your old fillings with tooth colored fillings and in the process we can detect and correct any damage hiding underneath the fillings before it destroys your teeth.

Will porcelain fillings make my teeth sensitive to hot and cold foods?

No. Porcelain does not conduct heat and cold like you old amalgam fillings. It will seal the hole in your tooth relieving the sensitivity.

Will I be able to feel my fillings?

No. Your fillings will be polished smooth, so they will be seamless.

I have “tooth colored” fillings and they look terrible. How is this different?

While old tooth-colored materials were an improvement over silver amalgam, they had several problems. Your filling may not have been perfectly matched to the color of your tooth in the first place. If it was, it may have become stained. The old materials tend to have a dead, flat look, too.

Our porcelain white fillings are perfectly color matched to your natural tooth. Porcelain reacts with light in the same way as your tooth enamel, so they look real and alive. Your filling will be polished to a glass-like surface, so it will be very resistant to staining.

We encourage you to learn more about the benefits of Porcelain Fillings by reading our Metal-Free Practice page. Please contact our cosmetic dentistry office today to schedule your free initial white fillings consultation in New Jersey. Cosmetic Dentist Dr. Green serves cosmetic dentistry patients in Caldwell, West Essex, Essex County, Morris County, and Passaic County, New Jersey.