Composite (tooth-colored) fillings
Composite resin is the standard at most modern dental offices, including ours. It's a tooth-colored material that bonds directly to enamel and dentin, which means the dentist removes less healthy tooth structure to place it. Properly placed composites last 7–10 years on average, and longer in low-stress areas.
The benefits are obvious: composites match your natural tooth color, bond chemically rather than sitting in a mechanical undercut, and don't expand or contract with temperature changes the way metals do.
Amalgam (silver) fillings
Amalgam is the traditional silver-colored filling material, a mix of mercury, silver, tin, and copper. It's been used for over 150 years and is one of the most studied dental materials in existence. Amalgam fillings often last 10–15 years and handle heavy biting forces well, which made them the default for back teeth for decades.
The downsides: they look obviously metallic, they require the dentist to undercut the tooth (removing more healthy structure), and modern composite formulas now match or exceed their durability in most cases.
When we recommend each
At Cusp Dental, the decision is case by case:
- Front teeth, visible smile-line: always composite
- Small to medium cavities anywhere: composite
- Patients with metal allergies or aesthetic concerns: composite
- Very large back-molar fillings with limited isolation from saliva: occasionally amalgam, more often a crown or onlay
Is mercury in amalgam safe?
Amalgam fillings are considered safe by the ADA, FDA, and World Health Organization. The mercury in amalgam is bound chemically and releases in vapor amounts well below recognized exposure limits. That said, if you have existing amalgams and prefer not to, we don't recommend replacing them solely for cosmetic reasons unless the filling itself is failing.
What it costs
Composite fillings typically cost slightly more than amalgam before insurance, but most PPO plans now cover composites for both front and back teeth. We verify your benefits before your visit so there are no surprises, call us for a personalized estimate.
How long composite fillings actually last
The old story was that amalgam fillings outlasted composite by a decade. With modern composite materials and bonding technique, that gap has narrowed significantly, most composite fillings now last 10 to 12 years, with some lasting 15+ when placed on small to mid-sized cavities.
Fillings on chewing surfaces of molars wear faster than fillings on the sides of teeth. Bruxism (clenching or grinding) is the single biggest factor in shortening a filling's lifespan. If you grind, a nightguard pays for itself in postponed filling replacements. We track the age and condition of every filling at each cleaning and only recommend replacement when the margins start to leak or wear becomes structural.
Questions about your specific case?
Every patient's mouth is different. The article above covers the general principles, for a personalized recommendation, schedule a consultation with Dr. Sidhu.
