Do tooth colored fillings last as long as silver fillings?
Unfortunately, no. When used for smaller or more conservative fillings they are somewhat comparable to silver. Each individual tooth must be evaluated before making a decision to restore using plastic resin or silver. To restore every tooth with the same type of material would be inappropriate. It is not rocket science that metal is more durable that plastic.
Some tooth colored fillings may last as long as silver fillings if they are not too large. Once the total size in volume is too large, the filling may shrink. That can lead to sensitivity, and sometimes decay under the filling. The compression and bonding strength of resin materials has improved dramatically over the years thereby increasing their life span.
