Why didn't they have this in the early '80s??

So, I went to the dentist last night to get two of my old fillings replaced. The old ones were starting to crack my teeth. Ummm....first, does this mean I'm getting old, when fillings need replacing?? Second, since when did fillings come in white? All of the ones I got in the 1980s (I loved candy - went to the candy store every single solitary day after stealing 50 cents or $1 from my Mom) were silver. I even got a filling in 1995 that was silver. Since when have they been white?? Not complaining - they rule. Except, of course, my two new white fillings are on the upper half, where nobody ever sees. I do have to say, though, that the process is more unpleasant than silver fillings. It seemed to take much longer than I remember and who really wants to sit there for an hour with their jaw open? Then, they keep pointing this laser gun thingy (no joke) in your mouth, pointed at the new filling. When the doctor started to drill out the old silver, I jumped - the sound startled me. That never happened when I was a kid. Is it possible that I somehow grew a fear of the dental drill as an adult? Plus which, I don't appreciate being laughed at by the dentist and his assistant (because I jumped at the sound of drill). Anyway, once they got the old ones out of there, I was astounded to feel (with my tongue) how huge the gap was...it was like a big, jagged hole in the tooth - like the entire core of the tooth was gone. Wow, I *must* have eaten too many Jolly Rancher sticks in 1985. Really very unpleasant experience all together. Except I do like having white fillings.