Repair Your Teeth With Tooth Colored Composite Fillings
Once your dentist has removed decayed, diseased, or infected matter from your tooth, they will need to repair the tooth using a dental filling. In the past, dental fillings were obvious because they were constructed from dark-colored materials that did not look natural. Now you have the option to select tooth colored composite fillings, so your fillings won't be as noticeable. At Reiser Dental, we offer tooth colored fillings in Denver, CO. Our tooth colored fillings will restore the shape, appearance, and strength of your tooth so that you don't need a tooth extraction.
What Is a Tooth Colored Filling?
The easiest way I can explain it is that a filling is a material we use to restore a damaged tooth. Damage such as a cavity, chip, or broken area of a tooth can sometimes be restored with a filling to replace the damaged or missing tooth structure.
A tooth colored composite filling is constructed from composite resins that are custom-made to match the color of your surrounding natural teeth. These fillings increase the structural stability and strength of your teeth so you can eat and speak normally. You may need a filling if you have a dental cavity or infection that requires your dentist to remove a portion of your tooth. Your dentist will then fill in the cavity with a tooth-colored filling. The material is applied in layers and shaped to your tooth. It is then hardened using a special light and polished to look natural.
Who Is an Ideal Candidate for Tooth Colored Fillings?
You are a good candidate for tooth colored fillings if you have a cavity that needs to be treated, have discoloration or dark spots on your teeth, have yellowed teeth, have uneven teeth that are chipped or cracked, want to fill in gaps between your teeth, or want to replace old silver, gold, or amalgam fillings.
Sometimes it's hard for you to know if you need a filling because many cavities don't cause pain, especially when they're small. If anything feels off or unusual, come in and let us take a look at it.
Otherwise, during your routine dental checkups, we'll evaluate your teeth for signs of decay or damage and determine if any fillings or other treatment are needed.
The Benefits of Tooth-Colored Composite Fillings
- More aesthetically pleasing.
- Resistant to temperature changes.
- Supports talking, chewing, and eating.
- Improves your confidence and self-esteem.
- Prevent further damage or weakening of the tooth.
- Improve the shape, color, and texture of your teeth.
- More natural looking and harder to detect in your mouth.
- Repair teeth after damage, infection, a dental cavity, or a root canal procedure.
Will Anyone Be Able to Notice My Fillings?
Our goal is to have your dental filling match your tooth color and shape as closely as possible. We will take a shade and do everything we can to blend it right in. With lots of smaller fillings, we can blend the material very closely with the surrounding natural tooth.
No, most people will not be able to notice your fillings if you choose tooth colored fillings. If you opt for gold or silver amalgam fillings, people may be able to see them when you speak, eat, smile, or laugh. Your dentist will recommend tooth colored composite fillings for fillings on very visible areas of the tooth that would be easily seen.
How Do I Know Which Kind of Fillings Are Right for Me?
Our dentist will review each type of dental filling available and help you determine which is right for you. Your choice may depend on the size of the area to be restored, your budget, age, lifestyle, and dental insurance. Each type of dental filling has advantages and disadvantages, and your choice may come down to cost and aesthetics.
Are There Different Types of Tooth Colored Fillings?
There are all kinds of filling materials these days. Most people are familiar with tooth-colored composite fillings, which are made from a resin-based material. There are also ceramic, porcelain, gold, and silver amalgam restorations. More often than not, when we're talking about a direct filling today, we're talking about a tooth-colored composite filling material.
All tooth colored fillings are created from a composite of ceramic and plastic compounds. They are custom-colored to match the natural color of your teeth. The other types of dental fillings are:
- Gold – Cast gold fillings are durable and won't corrode. They are also very strong. However, they don't look natural and are much more expensive than other filling options. They also require at least two office visits to put in place.
- Silver Amalgam – Silver amalgam fillings are durable, strong, and may cost less than tooth colored composite fillings. They don't look natural, however, and they require more space to place. They can also cause discoloration of the surrounding natural teeth and are susceptible to cracks and fractures.
- Tooth Colored Composite Resin – These can be carefully matched to the color of natural teeth. They are best used on visible parts of the teeth. They bond well to the tooth, are versatile, and don't require much space. However, they are less durable than other types of fillings and require additional visits and treatment time. They can also be susceptible to chipping.
- Ceramic – Ceramic fillings are made of porcelain and are resistant to staining. They can last up to 15 years, and usually, this tooth colored filling costs as much as gold fillings.
- Glass Ionomer – This type of filling is made of a blend of acrylic and glass. It is used for fillings in young children and fillings below the gum line. They are weaker than resin and are susceptible to wear and tear.
Do They Look Natural?
Yes. Tooth colored fillings look more natural than any other type of dental filling. They are specifically colored to match your surrounding natural teeth so that no one will even know that you had a filling.
Can a cavity be treated without a drill?
Yes and no. Sometimes, if there's a very small, early area of tooth decay, there are techniques we can use that may help manage it without drilling. But once a cavity has created a hole in your tooth, we generally need to remove the damaged or decayed tooth structure and restore the area with an appropriate filling material.
Does getting a filling hurt?
This is a very common question we get. For some small fillings, we may be able to take care of the tooth without having to numb the area. For most cavities, though, we would need to get you numb. There might be a little bit of discomfort during the numbing part of the procedure, but the local anesthetic is there to help keep you comfortable while we're working.
We take our time, check on how you're doing, and can stop if needed. Our goal is to keep you as comfortable as possible throughout the procedure.
Can I eat after getting a filling?
With many tooth-colored composite fillings, the filling material is hardened during the procedure, so the restoration itself is ready when you leave. The big thing we recommend is being extremely careful if you're still numb because it's very easy to bite your tongue or cheek without noticing it.
We'll let you know if there are any specific eating or chewing instructions based on the type of filling material used and the treatment you've had.
How long do fillings last?
I don't like to put one timeline on how long a filling is going to last. I have patients in their 80s who have had fillings for many years. Fillings can last a long time, but they can also wear down, break, or chip, and you can develop a cavity along the margin of the filling that may require it to be replaced.
How well you take care of your teeth, your oral habits, the size and location of the filling, and other factors can all affect how long a filling lasts and whether it eventually needs to be replaced.
How much does a filling cost?
The cost of a tooth filling really depends on what tooth it is and how much of the tooth we're replacing. Dental insurance may provide coverage for fillings depending on your individual plan. Once we see what's going on, including which tooth is involved, how many surfaces need to be restored, and how large the filling will be, we can give you an estimate of the cost.
Prevention of Dental Cavities
That's kind of my main goal, to help prevent the need for fillings whenever possible. Brushing, flossing, fluoride, and routine dental checkups can all help reduce your risk of cavities and the need for fillings. Obviously, damage can also happen from accidents, but good routine oral hygiene and dental care can help prevent many of the problems that lead to fillings.
The best way to avoid the need for dental fillings is to protect your teeth from dental cavities, decay, and infection. You can do this by maintaining a consistent, thorough oral hygiene routine and visiting your dentist yearly for an annual exam, professional dental cleaning, and dental x-rays. You should brush thoroughly twice per day or after every meal and floss daily. You should eat a balanced diet, drink enough water, and avoid alcohol, caffeine, sugary drinks, and nicotine.
Request an Estimate for Tooth Colored Fillings
Your dental health matters to us, and we're here to support you every step of the way. If you're looking for expert dental care near Denver, CO, call (720) 797-5554 or email [email protected] to learn more. Ready to get started? Schedule your appointment below.