Tooth-Colored Fillings
If you are embarrassed about your smile because of decayed, disfigured, or discolored teeth, you may be a good candidate for tooth-colored fillings and other composite bonding applications. Tooth-colored fillings and aesthetic bonding work is created with composite resin, which is mixture of microscopic ceramic and glass particles dispersed in a plastic resin that can be bonded to teeth. The material comes in a wide range of shades and can be molded and sculpted to create almost any shape or contour. The fact that the resin is bonded means a seal is formed to reduce leakage, which is common with silver fillings.
Benefits of Composite Resins
For more than 150 years, teeth that were decayed, cracked, or otherwise damaged were filled with an amalgam of silver, liquid mercury, copper, tin, and other trace metals. While amalgam fillings do sufficiently restore damaged teeth, their unsightly appearance and numerous faults have led oral healthcare professionals to seek a more stable and aesthetically pleasing alternative.
Whereas amalgam fillings – also known simply as silver or mercury fillings – detract from a smile’s natural beauty, composite resins blend smoothly and consistently with the surrounding tooth surface. Commonly referred to as tooth-colored restorations, composite resins are meticulously shaped and colored to resemble the natural appearance of tooth enamel for a seamless, attractive smile.
Advantages of Composite Resin Bonding
While the aesthetic benefits of composite resin bonding are clear, tooth-colored restorations offer more than cosmetic advantages. When exposed to extreme heat or cold, amalgam fillings can alter in size and shape, expanding and contracting within the remaining natural tooth structure. Over time, this can lead to microfractures that diminish the strength of the tooth, necessitating further reparative treatment. Composite resins are resistant to changes in temperature, maintaining their shape and size for long-lasting, effective results.
Tooth-colored restorations are also comparatively better for your smile in that they are considered a conservative dental treatment. Conservative dentistry aims to reduce the amount of enamel removed from your teeth, preserving more of your natural smile. Our dentists are committed to helping patients achieve optimal oral health and beautiful cosmetic results, and utilizing composite resins whenever possible is only one of the many ways we accomplish this.
Remove Black Silver Fillings
If you have old, black silver fillings that you dislike, natural-color (composite) fillings can help you feel good about your smile immediately, often in just one appointment. Furthermore, silver fillings that have turned black are often a sign of degradation and leaky fillings. Natural-color fillings are not only an attractive replacement for unsightly silver fillings, but they are stronger, long-lasting, and mercury-free.
For more information regarding aesthetic restorations, please contact our office. Our friendly and knowledgeable team is happy to answer questions and to help you schedule a free consultation with Dr. Shen.*
