Composite fillings are tooth-colored to blend in with the remaining natural part of the tooth.
The term composite refers to the actual filling material which is a mixture of glass or quartz filler in a resin medium.
Composite fillings provide good durability and resistance to fracture in small-to-mid size restorations that need to withstand moderate chewing pressure. Less tooth structure is removed when the dentist prepares the tooth, and this may result in a smaller filling than with an amalgam.
In addition, composites are "bonded", or adhesively attached, to the tooth, often allowing a more conservative repair for the tooth. Composite fillings require that the tooth be kept clean and dry during the entire filling process and they are subject to stain and discoloration over time. The life expectancy of a white filling can depend greatly on where it is in your mouth and how heavily your teeth come together when you bite.
Composite filling material is also commonly used to repair front teeth that have chipped or worn. Where possible, esthetic bonding of composite material to front teeth is generally much less expensive than veneers or crowns. However, bonding typically does not last as long as veneers or crowns.
Reasons For Composite Fillings
• Restoring small to medium sized cavities
• Restoring a cavity on an anterior (front) tooth
• Restoring a chipped anterior (front) tooth
What does getting a composite filling involve?
First, your dentist will answer any questions you have and then will apply anesthetic to the tooth requiring the composite filling.
Then your doctor will thoroughly remove the decay that is present and prepare the tooth to successfully bond with the composite filling material. A blue light will be used to turn the composite material from soft to hard and durable.
The tooth may be sensitive for a little while, but if it persists for a week or more it is important to call our office so we can examine the tooth and determine if additional treatment is needed. |
