Tooth-Colored Fillings
For some, the appearance of standard silver amalgam fillings is unattractive. They are noticeable when you smile and can cause your teeth to appear discolored.
If you need a filling but don’t want it to be visible, tooth-colored composite fillings are appealing alternatives. Composites can also be used for minor reshaping of chipped teeth or to fill small gaps between teeth to give you a more even, appealing smile.
What Is a Composite Filling?
Composite fillings are usually formed using a mixture of resins, fillers, and colorants, which are applied to the tooth in layers and “cured." Unlike silver amalgam fillings, composites can be made to match the color of your natural teeth, giving you a more seamless-looking filling than amalgam fillings.
Since the composite bonds directly to your tooth, these fillings require less removal of healthy tooth, which leaves more remaining tooth structure intact. Composite fillings are also less susceptible to cracking and chipping due to temperature changes in your mouth than amalgam fillings.
How Is a Composite Filling Placed?
To place a composite filling, the dentist will numb the area if necessary and remove any decay. The remaining tooth structure is then etched to create a rough surface for the composite to bond to.
The dentist will match the color of your natural tooth and mix up a composite that is then applied in layers with curing between each layer. Once built up, the filling will be shaped to contour to your bite and look natural and then polished smooth.
For areas needing larger fillings, a semi-direct or indirect filling may be used. These consist of composite that is either built up inside the mouth and then removed for curing or a filling that is manufactured outside of the mouth and cured. This allows for stronger curing and a more sturdy composite filling. Once the filling is cured, it is bonded to your natural tooth.
Why Choose Composite?
While composite fillings are usually more expensive than silver amalgam fillings, they offer a better esthetic than the metal fillings. They can also act more like natural tooth, helping to avoid fractures due to uneven stress when biting.
Contact our office today to make an appointment or to ask your questions about tooth-colored composite fillings.
Frequently Asked Questions
We are an amalgam-free practice, meaning that we only place tooth-colored composite resin fillings. The technology of tooth-colored filling material has came so far in the past few years, that we are basically able to pickup all of the desirable qualities of amalgam (silver) fillings and add to them with the composite resin tooth-colored fillings. Amalgam fillings have a tendency to fracture after many years of wear and are not very esthetic. Amalgam is an alloy of lots of different metals including silver, tin, zinc, copper, and mercury. Although there has been no research (as of yet) to support that the mercury content in amalgam fillings is detrimental to one's health, we choose to avoid it altogether. Dr. Jackson always says he is more concerned with the tendency of amalgam to fracture over time than the concern with mercury toxicity. So there is no reason to go and remove amalgam fillings unless there has been a breakdown of the material or there is decay under the amalgam filling.
Meet Our Doctor:
Dr. Scott Jackson
Dr. Jackson was raised in a small town outside of Jackson, Mississippi (Florence, MS). He always knew he wanted to serve in some way, and after high school, he decided to join the U.S. Navy soon after September 11, 2001. He served onboard the USS Jacksonville (SSN 699), which is a “fast-attack” submarine. Dr. Jackson was stationed in many different areas, including Norfolk, Virginia; Great Lakes, Illinois; and Kittery, Maine.
After his service in the military, Dr. Jackson wanted to continue serving while pursuing his childhood dream ...