Smile Gallery - Cosmetic Dentistry - Composite Fillings

Procedure Description:
Composite "white" fillings, made of composite, are used to restore teeth that have small cavities. They are called "white" fillings because of the natural, tooth color of the material. Unlike inlays and onlays that are crafted in an outside lab, composite fillings can be made on-site and completed in only one office visit.

How It's Done:
A composite "white" filling is used when the cavity is small and the patient desires a natural-looking restoration. The dentist will numb the area, then prepare the tooth for restoration, removing any decay. He or she will then apply the composite, and fill the cavity. After the composite has been cured, it will be smoothed and shaped for fit and comfort.

Technology:
No special technology is necessary for the use of composite fillings.

Recover/Post Op Expectations:
Following the placement of a composite filling, the patient may experience some discomfort or tenderness in the area. Ibuprofen can reduce the symptoms.

Complications:
Complications from the use of composites are unlikely. It is possible that you may need an adjustment to accommodate your natural bite, and there may be minor sensitivity for a few days.

Am I a Candidate?
If you have either a small cavity or an existing small metal filling you wish to have replaced, you are a candidate for a composite "white" filling.

1) Amalgam and composite fillings. Dental composite fillings for front teeth.
Dental composite (the restorative that is used with tooth bonding technique) has been the material of choice for creating tooth-colored fillings for front teeth for many decades (since the 1960's). Because dental composite comes in a wide range of different shades of white, it will typically mimic the color of the tooth on which it is placed very closely.

2) White fillings for back teeth.
In some instances dental composite can be an appropriate restorative for fillings placed in back teeth. Patients often like this option because the white color of composite fillings is much less noticeable than the silver coloration of dental amalgam fillings.