Tooth-colored fillings are small cosmetic dentistry restorations. They are made from a resin or ceramic-based material. These fillings repair small defects in teeth from decay, fracture, or erosion.
Tooth-colored fillings may be placed in your tooth with minimal reduction of the enamel. They blend in so well that they normally cannot be seen.
Normally done in one appointment, most tooth-colored fillings can be placed with less tooth removal than metal-based materials (silver amalgam or gold). Often these restorations can be placed without local anesthetic.
Yes, current 10-year studies show similar long-lasting results for tooth-colored fillings and traditional metal fillings. Remember, fillings will not restore your tooth to its original strength like a porcelain veneer or a crown. Fillings are placed in teeth that are not compromised or weakened.
All restorations in our office are designed to match the color and function of your teeth. If your tooth can be properly restored using a dental filling, tooth-colored material will always be used.
A 38-year-old man came to us for his routine hygiene visit, at which point decay was found in two of his back teeth.
During his first appointment, the two molars were prepared for porcelain crowns, and the silver fillings were replaced with tooth-colored fillings. Provisional (temporary) crowns were placed for use while our laboratory fabricated his permanent crowns.
Since all of the back teeth would already be numb, a decision was made to replace the patient’s existing silver fillings and gold crown with more aesthetically pleasing porcelain restorations. During the final appointment, the patient’s permanent crowns were precisely fitted and cemented.
