Tooth-Colored Fillings

Cavities and minor fractures can cause much more significant issues if left untreated. In the past, metal restorations called amalgam fillings (or silver fillings) served a need but left many teeth discolored and strained from the wedging effect of the metal. Today, tooth-colored composite resins blend into the tooth structure and are bonded to the tooth for a substantial, permanent restoration.

Composites serve both functional and aesthetic roles, often at the same time. For example, a cavity invading the front of a tooth along the gum line may be visible in your smile line. The tooth is restored and will look better than ever by gently cleaning out the soft, discolored area and replacing it with a tooth-colored filling.

Composites contain a mix of liquid resin embedded with finely ground glass particles. After being molded to the prepared tooth structure, blue light is applied directly to harden the filling material within seconds. The restoration is complete once it’s shaped and polished to a high shine.