Over time, like most metals, silver fillings will eventually corrode and even leak causing decay to reoccur underneath the fillings. This compound makes a composite filling more resistant to wear, color adjustable, and easier to polish. The advantages of choosing a composite filling include a more natural appearance, frequently a strengthening of the filled tooth, and a bonding of the filling to the tooth creating a better seal. This bonding also means that the filling can often be made smaller than a comparable silver filling since silver requires certain size criteria be met to resist breaking or falling out. The disadvantages are that composite fillings themselves are weaker and may last a shorter period than a silver filling.
Composites suffer from what is called dissolution.
They will actually dissolve slowly over time in your mouth regardless of whether you eat on them directly or not. In addition, they can discolor over time acquiring a yellowish tinge. Composite fillings also may get pitted leaving pinholes on the surface, which may pick up discoloring and stain permanently. You might wish to see our related section Empress Crowns for more information on the types of crowns available.