Tooth-colored Composite Fillings in Lexington
At PDA, we only place tooth-colored white composite fillings that blend in with your tooth and make it look virtually un-touched. Composite filling material contains no metal and thus eliminates the unsightly old black and gray color of restorations. This highly esthetic material actually bonds directly to the tooth structure creating a well-sealed restoration that, with proper maintenance, will last for years.
Composite resin fillings match the color of your teeth so that they blend in and leave you with a gorgeous smile that no one can even tell contains fillings. Aside from the aesthetic benefits, composite resin fillings are healthier, better sealed, and less prone to damage than traditional amalgam silver fillings.
Composite fillings completed at PDA shown below:
All decay is removed as well as any problematic deep grooves that trap food. The teeth are then filled and sealed with beautiful white composite fillings which make the teeth look “as good as new!” The new fillings should be virtually undetectable - in both appearance and in function.
What Makes Composite Fillings Different?
There are many advantages to opting for composite resin tooth-colored fillings as opposed to outdated amalgam silver fillings. To begin with, composite resin fillings are the same color as your natural teeth, so no one will be able to tell the difference between a tooth with a filling and a healthy, natural tooth.
These fillings are also much sturdier, kinder to the surrounding tooth structure, and offer more support than amalgam fillings, which were prone to cracking due to their metal material. Because composite resin doesn’t expand and contract, they are crack-resistant and less likely to cause damage to your teeth.
Other benefits of composite resin fillings include:
Less placement time, cured (set hard) immediately
No restrictions for eating or cleaning
Stain-resistant
Require removal of less tooth structure a.k.a. less drilling
Don’t expose you to mercury or other metallic properties
As silver amalgam fillings age, they chip out at the edges thereby creating small gaps that “leak” where food and bacteria can get underneath the old fillings and form decay. Metal fillings also put a lot of stress on the surrounding tooth structure and you will often find undermining crack lines in the natural tooth structure around a silver filling. After removing the older broken metal fillings, the teeth are cleaned well and new tooth-colored composite resin fillings are placed to seal and restore the teeth!
If the cracks around an older silver filling are significant, the best option for the tooth may be a full-coverage crown to protect the tooth from further breakage. Learn more about dental crowns here.
Can I Replace My Old Silver Filling?
Yes, you can replace your old dental fillings with composite resin fillings. All fillings need to be replaced eventually due to wear and tear. The estimated lifespan of fillings is 10-15 years. There are many reasons you could need to replace these old fillings.
You should replace your fillings if you notice any of the following:
The filling is becoming loose
Leakage is causing discoloration or decay
There are cracks or breakage in the filling
You are unhappy with the appearance
You have had them for a long time
Your fillings are deformed
You have cold, hot, or biting sensitivity on a tooth with an old filling
To replace an amalgam filling with a modern composite resin filling, the silver fillings will be removed, we will thoroughly clean your tooth, and then we will place the new tooth-colored filling and bond it in place. If your old fillings caused extensive damage to your tooth, placing a crown over the tooth may be warranted for extra protection.
Ideally a filling should not look or feel like a filling - it should look and function like a natural tooth!
What To Expect From the Composite Filling Process
You will receive a topical numbing gel followed by a local anesthetic so that you don't feel any pain or discomfort during the treatment. Old filling material and decay is removed from the tooth which takes a few minutes. You should not feel any pain but you will feel pressure and vibration on your teeth.
The teeth will then be cleaned and disinfected before applying the bonding agent and composite resin to the tooth in layers until there is no remaining void in the tooth. The composite resin is molded to the shape of your natural tooth and the resin is hardened after each layer with a special small UV light wand.
For the final step, your bite will be checked and adjusted and the tooth will be polished. You may now return to eating normally as soon as the anesthesia has worn off.
Replace Old Amalgam Fillings with Composite Resin Fillings at Palmetto Dental Associates
Do you have cavities that need filling or simply want to replace old, cracked, unappealing silver amalgam fillings? Contact us at Palmetto Dental Associates today! Feel confident in your smile again and enjoy the strength and beauty of composite resin fillings. Schedule an appointment with Dr. Shull or Dr. Stanford for tooth-colored fillings.