Tooth-Colored Fillings
At Foster Family Dental, we have chosen to provide our patients with a mercury-free facility and do not place amalgam (silver) fillings. When placed correctly, new generations of composite filling material can last a long time.
Composite fillings are an aesthetic and conservative way to treat tooth decay. Composite fillings are ideal for replacing small to moderate amounts of tooth structure. These types of fillings are adhesively bonded to teeth, allowing you to preserve more of your natural tooth. With composite fillings, we can closely match the shade of your natural tooth. Composite fillings can also replace discolored and leaking metal fillings, repair chipped teeth, and close spaces between front teeth.
Composite fillings require much less tooth structure to be removed and sometimes can be placed without being numb. Additionally, you can eat on tooth-colored fillings immediately after they are placed. There are many benefits in restoring your tooth with composite fillings.
How Is a Composite Filling Placed?
To place a composite filling, the dentist will numb the area if necessary and remove any decay. The remaining tooth is then etched to create a rough surface to bond the composite to. The dentist will match the color of your natural tooth and mix up a composite that is then applied in layers with curing between each layer. Once built up, it will be shaped to contour to your bite and look natural, then polished smooth.
For areas needing larger fillings, a semi-direct or indirect filling may be used. These consist of composite that is either built up inside the mouth and then removed for curing, or a filling that is manufactured outside of the mouth and cured. This allows for stronger curing and a more sturdy composite filling. Once the filling is cured, it is bonded to your natural tooth.
Why Choose Composite?
Composite fillings are usually more expensive than silver amalgam fillings, but they offer a better esthetic than the metal fillings. They can also act more like natural tooth, helping to avoid fractures due to uneven stress when biting.
Contact our office today to make an appointment or if you have any questions or concerns about tooth-colored composite fillings
