White vs silver fillings, which one is better?

Question

I got 3 silver ones done today and now I feel bad. They are my upper back teeth. which one is actually better? did I make the wrong decision?

Answer 1

Silver lasts a looong time....20 years, great restorations!

White---pretty, more expensive and not as good in those back teeth, need to be replaced every 5 years or so....and then after a couple of re-fills you need a crown.

You did good....not to worry.

if you are worried about mercury...don't eat SUSHI!

Answer 2

Usually composite (white filling) is used with front teeth because they look better. With back teeth, you don't really see those teeth so I would recommend the amalgam (silver) fillings.

They are less touchy -- as in when the dentist puts it in, if composite gets wet with saliva it will not set right, and most amalgams still set up fine. Amalgams actually are better at preventing future cavities from forming around the filling and prevent what they call "micro leakage" where bacteria get into the tooth between the filling and your tooth. You can have amalgams for much longer before needing a replacement vs. composite.

Some people might say since amalgam has mercury you will get exposure... but the truth is the filling keeps most of the mercury inside and the way the dentist prepares it, most of the mercury gets burnished out and carved away. you get more natural mercury (which is worse than elemental mercury from fillings) exposure over your life eating tuna than if you had a couple of fillings.

Answer 3

Personally I think silver fillings are fine in back teeth because no-one really sees them. Especially if they are in the top teeth - I've got silver fillings in a lot of my back teeth, and the ones on the top you never see. I guess the ones on the bottom are kind of obvious if I yawn or something and open my mouth wide, but it doesn't really bother me. I've only had one white filling and that was because I had a cavity in a front tooth, and obviously didn't want silver there where it would be really obvious to everyone. So I don't think you made the wrong decision, apart from cosmetic appearance, silver fillings last a lot longer than white ones and are stronger so are better if the cavities are on the biting surface of the back teeth, particularly if the cavities are quite big.

Answer 4

when i was like 5 and had  to get fillings i had silver ones.

they were big and covered the whole tooth.

i had 3. i lost 1 tooth with it on and the other one got too much salva on it and ended up commming off...

but the last one wouldnt come off. so they ended up pulling the tooth.

but since your silver are in the back and its on top it shouldnt matter as much.

mine were all on the bottom.

and one was near the front so everytime i smiled you saw it.

Answer 5

Since you more than likely cannot see your teeth when smiling I would have got the silver fillings as well since they are cheaper and last longer.