Tooth-Colored Fillings

Restoring Your Beautiful Smile

For many years, getting a cavity filled meant learning to live with an obvious, dark silvery blob on your tooth. Sure, amalgam fillings got the job done, but they aren’t the best solution out there anymore. At Brookwood Dental Associates, we use only tooth-colored fillings—the more efficient, safer, and certainly more appealing way to fill in cavities. With this type, we can truly and fully restore your tooth’s strength, health, and appearance after tooth decay.

What are tooth-colored fillings made of?

Unlike amalgam, which consists of a compound of mercury, silver, tin, and copper, tooth-colored fillings contain no metal at all. Instead, this type of filling uses composite resin, a material that combines fine ceramic particles with plastic. This substance is very flexible and biocompatible, meaning that it bonds well to the natural tooth structure. It also mimics the appearance of natural teeth and, with the right coloring, can blend perfectly with its surroundings.

What are the benefits of tooth-colored fillings?

Although amalgam is very durable, it has many flaws, including its unsightly appearance. On the other hand, composite resin has many advantages as a filling material, including the following:

It looks natural. Compared to other types of fillings, especially amalgam, composite resin is practically invisible because it can be shaded to match your tooth enamel.
It preserves more of your natural tooth. Amalgam fillings do not bond to teeth well, so they require that additional tooth structure be removed to ensure they stay in place. With tooth-colored fillings, our dentists remove only what’s necessary—the decayed parts of your tooth.
It supports your tooth’s structure and strength. By adhering so well with your enamel, this type of filling reinforces the tooth.

How are tooth-colored fillings placed?

With any type of filling, your dentist needs to remove the infected tissue and parts of your tooth. To do that, they first numb the area with a local anesthetic and clean out your tooth to ensure no bacteria remain there. Then, they place the filling, which follows this process:

Your dentist takes the putty-like composite resin and matches the color to your enamel.
They put the resin into the newly cleaned tooth and sculpt the composite resin into the desired shape.
A curing light helps to harden the resin much faster.
Then your dentist fine tunes the resin’s appearance, smooths any rough edges, and ensures that your bite feels comfortable.

How should I care for my tooth-colored fillings?

Tooth-colored fillings do not require any specific, extra care. Just maintain the same healthy oral habits that you do for your natural teeth. These habits include:

Brushing your teeth twice a day.
Flossing once every day.
Visiting the dentist twice a year for checkups and cleanings.

For even more protection against future cavities, you could also use a fluoride mouthwash daily, drink more water, and consume less sugary foods and drinks. These lifestyle choices can strengthen your teeth and prevent bad bacteria from causing harm to your oral health.

At Brookwood Dental Associates, we are committed to helping you keep your teeth happy and healthy in the long run. By using advanced, efficient techniques and materials, like tooth-colored fillings, we can bring your teeth back to full health when you’ve had a cavity. We look forward to serving you, so make an appointment with us today!