Tooth colored fillings are also referred to as composites, because they are composed of a complex composite of plastic and zirconia/silica.Composites are good in durability, color stability, material handling qualities, and esthetics.Fillings are considered one type of tooth restoration. Other restorations include inlays, onlay, veneers and crowns.Tooth colored fillings are actually bonded to teeth compared to silver / amalgam fillings, which are not.

Tooth colored filling material comes in a great number of colors (shades), and are matched to your individual tooth color. Typically, a different type of material is used for front and back teeth. The materials used for front teeth have a high shine; whereas, the materials for back teeth are designed for strength — both look great! It’s nice that if you have a filling it can be virtually undetectable.

A Few Questions Related

How Long Do They Last?
Tooth colored fillings now are harder and more durable than silver / amalgam fillings. A small filling could conceivably last your lifetime, and larger fillings can be expected to last many years. The factors that determine the lifespan of a particular filling include: the tooth (molars take more force than bicuspids), the size of the filling relative to the tooth (smaller fillings will usually be more durable than larger fillings), and how teeth are cleaned and maintained daily.

How Should They Feel?
A new filling should feel natural, like your other teeth. After the anesthesia has worn away and you can feel your teeth and bite again, you should not notice anything particularly different. It should be smooth and comfortable.You can eat on tooth colored fillings right away (as soon as anesthesia is gone) compared to silver / amalgam fillings, which you cannot.

Should I change all my silver fillings to tooth colored fillings?
Unless there is a cavity or cracks in old silver amalgam fillings it is not usually recommended to change all the silver fillings to tooth colored fillings. The actual drilling process to remove silver fillings may be irritating to the tooth so unless it’s necessary it is not advisable to undergo unnecessary dental treatment.

The advantages of white fillings

• Composite filling integrates with the tooth...it doesn't weaken the tooth as a silver filling does.
• We now can make a smaller hole, since the white material can flow into small places.
• Due to the smaller hole, there is more of your own tooth left, leaving it stronger.
• Secondary decay is easier to spot beneath tooth colored fillings.
  If damaged, they can be easily fixed.
• They are temperature and electrical insulators-resistant to extremes of heat and cold.
• Environmentally safe-no hazardous metal wastes to dispose of and no risk of mercury allergy.
• Allow to fix smaller cavities.
• They are a more natural, attractive choice.
• Composites bond to the tooth to support the remaining tooth to help prevent breakage.
• Composites (white fillings) last about 8 years with a range of 7-10 years.

Disadvantages:

• The presence of saliva can compromise the bonding process. The tooth require isolation.
• This matter will not work well on wisdom teeth because there is no adjacent tooth to shore up the outer edge.
• Potential to leak.