Tooth-Colored Fillings

If you are like most adults, it is likely you will have a cavity that needs filling at some point of your life.

In the past, one of the most common ways to fill cavities, or dental caries, were amalgam fillings. Used for some 150 years, amalgam fillings were effective in preventing cavities from growing. However, with their dark gray color—a result of the combination of metals used to create these fillings—they were not terribly attractive.

In recent years, however, tooth-colored composite fillings have continued to improve to the point that not only are they made of materials that can match the color of your tooth but they offer excellent durability and resistance to fracture as well.

Dr. Brittaney Glazer of Glazer Family Dentistry offers tooth-colored fillings for patients who need to have their cavity filled. If you think you might have a cavity, give Dr. Glazer a call!

Advantages of Tooth-Colored Fillings

Also known as composite fillings, tooth-colored fillings are made of a mixture of tiny glass or quartz particles in a resin medium. One obvious advantage with tooth-colored fillings, of course, is that they match the color of your tooth and so they blend right in with your natural teeth. If you talk or laugh—even with your mouth wide open—no one will be able to tell you have any fillings because they so closely match your existing teeth.

If you have a cavity toward the front of your mouth, which is more readily visible, filling it with composite will also ensure that it blends in with the rest of your teeth. Tooth-colored fillings can also be used to fix teeth that are chipped or broken, again blending in with the rest of your teeth.

There are other advantages to composite fillings as well, including the following:

• Filling preparation is easier and less invasive because in most cases not as much of the tooth needs to be prepared before the filling is placed.
• Composite fillings have less of a tendency to expand and contract when they come into contact with hot or cold liquids, so there is less of a risk of fracture than with an amalgam filling.

Caring for Teeth after Fillings

If you experience any tooth sensitivity after the filling is placed, this is normal. It will almost always resolve itself if given a little bit of time. Meanwhile, just avoid anything that is causing the sensitivity. You can also try a desensitizing toothpaste. If the sensitivity doesn’t go away after a few weeks, be sure to give us a call.

There is no difference in dental care after you get a tooth-colored filling. All you have to do is to continue to follow good oral hygiene practices, including brushing twice a day and flossing once a day. Continue to see your dentist twice each year for examinations and cleanings.

Find Out More about Tooth-Colored Fillings

If you need a tooth filled, contact Glazer Family Dentistry for more information on tooth-colored fillings. We look forward to seeing you!