Tooth-Coloured or Silver Fillings: Which Is Better?

When a cavity is caught early, a filling is usually all that's needed. The two most common materials are tooth-coloured composite and silver amalgam.

Tooth-coloured (composite)

• Matches the colour of your tooth — almost invisible
• Bonds to the tooth, so less healthy tooth needs to be removed
• Suitable for front and most back teeth

Silver (amalgam)

• Very durable and long-lasting in large back-tooth fillings
• Clearly visible and doesn't bond to the tooth
• Used less often today; many patients prefer tooth-coloured materials

If you have existing silver fillings that are intact and not causing problems, there's usually no need to replace them.