Should I replace my amalgam silver fillings with white plastic composite fillings?
Large clinical studies have found that the need for replacement of composite and compomer restorations was significant higher than for amalgam fillings. It is not uncommon for amalgam fillings to last over thirty years. The larger a filling the ore likey it is to fail due to mechanical loading over time. In general, metal fillings are better able to resist mechanical loading over time and therefore a more likely to survive for longer. Plastic composite fillings rely on chemical bonding to the tooth structure and evidence suggests that this bond may not be stable over time and contribute to the premature failure of these fillings.
