Composites are also called “ White Fillings” because of their appearance and aesthetics. These are a very good alternative to metal fillings which contain silver. Over the years the metal fillings are being phased out due to various reasons like:

1. Presence of mercury in the filling material. This can be a health hazard in the long run especially when there are several old fillings in the mouth.
2. Aesthetics - This is a big concern with metal fillings as they do not match the natural tooth colour at all. They appear as dark get silver spots on the teeth and Stand out completely.
3. They do not bond to the tooth structure at all and is only held by mechanical retention. It also puts stress on the tooth structure due to shrinkage and expansion due to temperature changes.

PROCEDURE

There are a few steps involved in the placement of a composite filling. It involves

Step 1 Tooth preparation and removal of decay.
Step 2 Using an etchant and bonding agent to prepare the tooth to chemically bond to the filling material. Step 3 Placing the composite material layer by layer and curing it with a special blue light. This light results in the polymerisation or curing of the filling material. This hardens the filling and bonds it to the tooth structure.

There are several advantages of this type of filling material

1. The finish and appearance of this material is by far the best. It gives a smooth glossy finish which can match perfectly to the natural tooth if done well.
2. It chemically bonds to the tooth structure, hence minimal preparation is sufficient. Natural tooth does not need to be sacrificed to retain the filling.
3. There is no mercury in the material, hence it is not a health hazard in the long run.
4. It does not put additional strain on the tooth by shrinking and expanding due to temperature changes.
5. It can be easily repaired and refilled if required without loss of tooth structure.
6. There is no downtime with composite fillings, the patient does not need to wait after the filling for the final setting time and can directly have his meals after the filling.

With the advent of newer and better materials, composites can be used in most cases like for deep
and complex fillings, tooth buildup and core buildup after root canal treatments. Also, it is the
material of choice for direct aesthetic fillings in the front teeth.