In the past, most fillings used by dentists were composed of various metals, such as silver and gold, mixed with other alloys. You may have some of these in your mouth currently.

While effective, these metal-colored fillings are unsightly, looking quite different from the teeth surrounding them.

Today, we make tooth-colored fillings from durable plastics called composite resins. They look similar in color and texture to natural teeth, the fillings look similar to the surrounding enamel and much more attractive, than other types of fillings. You can smile, talk, and eat with confidence. Besides, tooth-colored fillings are compatible with dental sealants, allowing us to both fill and seal a tooth at the same time to prevent any further decay.

However, tooth-colored fillings aren’t for every tooth in your mouth. While they are extremely durable, they tend to work best in small restorations and low-stress areas. We prefer to use ceramic and some metal surfaces for higher stress areas, such as the chewing surface of a back tooth.

Brian will discuss your options with you and together you can decide which options are best for each tooth.

Finally, many patients ask if there is any difference in care for a tooth-colored filling vs. a normal filling. The answer is: none at all. All you need do with a tooth-colored filling is brush, floss, and visit us regularly, just as you would the rest of your teeth.