Tooth Colored Fillings
Replace old, weak and ugly black silver fillings with new, safe, tooth colored replacements. These materials make your mouth look and feel natural and will bring a smile to your face.
In front teeth, tooth colored fillings are usually made of plastic and repair dental decay, erosion or abrasion problems with an undetectable end result. In back teeth, tooth colored fillings can be used to repair small decay or erosion problems, or replace the silver fillings which a lot of people object to having. For larger and more severe cavities, tooth colored fillings may not be the best answer. Porcelain veneers, ceramic inlays, or crowns and bridges, may be a better solution.
Key Benefits
- Natural and aesthetically pleasing
- Prevents additional dental decay
- Looks like no damage has occured to the tooth
- A safe alternative to metal fillings
- Compatible with dental fillings
- Protects sensitive teeth
Silver fillings shown here are now naturally colored to match the tooth. These tooth colored fillings bond to support the tooth and help prevent breakage and cracking
BEFORE |
AFTER |
Questions and Answers
A composite resin is a tooth colored plastic mixture filled with glass (silicone dioxide). Introduced in the 1960's, dental composites were confined to the front teeth because they were not strong enough to withstand the pressure and wear generated by the back teeth. Since then, composites have been successfully placed in the back teeth as well. Composites are not only used for restoring decay, but are also used for cosmetic improvements of the smile by changing the color of the teeth or reshaping disfigured teeth.
Following preparation, the dentist places the composite in layers, using a specialized light to harden each layer. When the process is finished, the dentist will shape the composite to fit the tooth. The dentist then polishes the composite to prevent staining and early wear.
Because a composite is more difficult to place than a silver filling, it takes the dentist about 10-20 minutes longer to place. Placement time depends on the size and location of the cavity.
Prices vary, but composites average about one and a half to two times the price of a silver filling. Most dental insurance plans cover the cost of the composite up to the price of the silver filling, with the patient paying the difference.
Asthetics are the main advantage, since dentists can blend shades to create a color nearly identical to that of the actual tooth. Composites bond to the tooth to support the remaining tooth structure, which helps to prevent breakage and insulate the tooth from excessive temperature changes.
Along with the higher cost and the extra placement time, the patient can experience post-operative sensitivity. Also, the shade of the composite can change slightly if the patients drinks tea, coffee, or other staining foods. Another drawback: composites tend to wear out sooner than silver fillings in large cavities, although they hold up as well in small cavities.
Studies have shown that composites last 7 to 10 years, which is comparable to silver fillings, except in very large restorations, where silver fillings last much longer than composites.
