White Fillings

Besides visual appearance, there are numerous advantages to having
white fillings over traditional fillings. This includes:

• Since they bond to the tooth, composite fillings restore most of
  the original strength of the tooth. Silver weakens the teeth,
  making them more susceptible to breaking. Since broken teeth
  are very expensive to restore, composites can save a lot of
  expense over the long run.
• Composite fillings restore the natural appearance of the tooth.
• Teeth restored with white fillings are less sensitive to hot and
  cold than teeth restored with amalgam, if correct techniques
  are used.
• Composites are mercury-free. Mercury in the fillings is viewed
  by some as being toxic.
• Composites require less removal of tooth structure. Especially
  with new cavities, the size of the hole made for the filling can be
  dramatically smaller with composites.