Tooth-Colored Fillings – Plano, TX

What Are Fillings?

Fillings restore decayed portions of your teeth. A cavity is a small hole that forms due to tooth decay. Without treatment, the decay spreads and forms a larger cavity. That threatens the integrity of your tooth, leaving you at risk of dental concerns like tooth pain, gum disease, and even tooth loss.

To prevent the cavity from spreading, your dentist removes the decayed portion of your tooth. Then, he uses a filling to restore its shape and size. Fillings also protect your tooth from additional decay.

Composite Fillings vs. Silver Fillings

While traditional amalgam (silver) fillings and composite fillings serve the same function, they have key differences:

Learn More

Silver Fillings

Traditional amalgam (silver) fillings are metal restorations that adhere to the biting surface of your decayed tooth once it’s treated. They’re strong, durable, and long-lasting. However, they’re also visibly silver in color. You can see silver fillings when you speak or smile. They’re also potentially harmful to people with metal allergies.

Composite Fillings

Composite fillings blend in with the color of your teeth. Also called white fillings, these restorations contain composite resin materials that protect and strengthen your decayed teeth. Composite fillings also reach the small crevices of your teeth better than silver fillings because they’re placed in a different way.

The Tooth-Colored Fillings Process

The process for placing a composite filling is fairly quick and straightforward. When you arrive for your appointment, your dentist removes any visible decay and clean your teeth before placing your filling.

Composite fillings use liquid materials to reach every crevice of your decayed tooth. After applying the composite solution, your dentist hardens it with a special curing light. He applies the filling in layers, hardening each layer before adding a new one. This process continues until your tooth returns to its natural shape and size.

Benefits of Tooth-Colored Fillings

In addition to their aesthetic advantages, composite fillings offer many benefits over amalgam fillings, such as:

• Less drilling – Since composite fillings bond to your teeth, your dentist needs to remove less of your natural tooth structure than he does for silver fillings.
• Strengthens the tooth – Composite fillings harden quickly and closely adhere to your teeth, so they strengthen and protect your tooth from damage.
• No metal – Silver fillings contain metal, which can be harmful to people with metal allergies. Composite fillings are less likely to cause irritation or discomfort.