Composite Tooth-Colored Fillings
Conservative Treatment
To maintain healthy tooth structure and conserve your beautiful smile, we recommend having your teeth checked and cleaned every six months. When we are able to detect cavities early, it allows us to retain the most of your natural tooth structure. During the restorative procedure, Dr. Sammons and Dr. Laurent will remove bacteria, disinfect the area, and will ensure the filling protects remaining tooth structure and restores the proper tooth shape.
Composite Tooth-Colored Fillings
Composite fillings – also known as tooth-colored fillings – are dental restorations designed to be inconspicuous and natural in appearance. They blend well with the teeth and appear more natural than amalgam fillings, which are darker and more easily seen by other people. Composite fillings are made of ceramic and plastic compounds that chemically bond to the teeth. They can be used to fill in decayed areas of the teeth, as well as to help repair chipped or broken teeth. Most dentists use composite restorations to treat the teeth closest to the front of the mouth, as they are more noticeable when patients smile. However, advancements in dental technology and the composition of composite fillings have made it possible for Dr. Sammons and Dr. Laurent to also use tooth-colored fillings on molars, which receive more wear than other teeth.
Did You Know?
Composite fillings allow Dr. Sammons and Dr. Laurent to preserve more of the natural tooth structure? This is because composite materials chemically bond to the surface of the tooth like an adhesive. The process takes slightly longer to complete than traditional amalgam fillings, but patients can preserve more of the natural portion of the teeth while enjoying a restoration that is discreet and understated.
Composite fillings are custom-matched to natural color of your tooth structure
Composite fillings are highly durable
Composite fillings do not contain any mercury as opposed to silver (amalgam) fillings
Composite fillings require less tooth structure to be removed
Frequently Asked Questions
If you have a cavity, broken tooth, or a deteriorated filling, you may be a candidate for a tooth-colored filling. Schedule a dental consultation with us to find out if composites are right for you.
During your visit, your gums and teeth will be anesthetized with a local anesthetic near the site of the filling. Once the area is numb, the decayed or damaged portion of your teeth will be removed to make room for the new tooth-colored filling. A resin will be placed over the area and cured with a hand-held light for less than a minute. The new filling will then be shaped and polished before the procedure is complete.
Composite fillings are cured with light at the Dental Artistry office. You should be able to return to normal activity and oral care immediately after your visit. It’s normal for treated teeth to experience some sensitivity to hot and cold in the days following treatment, but sensitivity that persists beyond a week should be reported to your dentist.
Dr. Sammons and Dr. Laurent both believe in the importance of composite fillings and have pushed themselves to go above and beyond the required training in this aspect of dentistry to give their patients the most advanced care.
