Why So Many Residents Switch To Tooth Colored Fillings
Cavities develop in most people at some point, and the solution no longer has to leave a silver mark on your smile. Tooth colored fillings offer a contemporary solution to traditional metal amalgam fillings — blending with the natural shade of your tooth so well that virtually no one will struggle to detect any dental work was done.
At ClearWave Dental & Aesthetics, our philosophy is that essential dental work should never come at the cost of how your mouth looks. Caring for individuals all over Coral Springs, FL, we use tooth-matched composite materials for treating cavities in a way that looks natural from day one.
Whether you have a tiny cavity on a molar, or you want to swap out outdated silver fillings which have started to look obvious, tooth colored fillings may be precisely what you need. This guide covers everything you should know prior to scheduling a visit.
What Exactly Are Tooth Colored Fillings?
Tooth colored fillings — sometimes referred to as composite fillings or composite resin restorations — make up a category of dental filling composed of a mixture of powdered glass granules and polymer resin. Unlike traditional amalgam fillings, that are made with mercury, tooth colored fillings bond directly to your existing tooth surface. This adhesion method requires less healthy enamel needing to be drilled away before placement.
Composite resin gets placed in thin increments, each coat cured within seconds with the help of a high-intensity LED light. When every layer hardens, your clinician sculpts and smooths the filling so that it mimics the original form of your tooth with great accuracy. What you're left with is a filling so well-matched that it looks like part of your original tooth.
Beyond aesthetics, tooth colored fillings function quite effectively from a mechanical perspective. Since the composite resin attaches directly to the tooth, it actually supports reinforce the surrounding natural tooth structure. Modern composite materials are far more wear-resistant than previous versions, which makes them a practical choice for both front and back teeth.
The Key Benefits of Tooth Colored Fillings
- Seamless Look: This material is color-matched to your specific tooth shade, making the restoration virtually undetectable under standard conditions.
- Reduced Tooth Preparation: Given that composite resin attaches chemically to enamel, your dentist is able to eliminate the damaged area, preserving more your healthy tooth structure.
- Mercury-Free Content: Compared to amalgam fillings, tooth colored fillings are made without heavy metals — a major advantage for individuals who want health-conscious dental materials.
- Wide-Ranging Use: Tooth colored fillings can treat cavities on any tooth in the mouth across the board, and can also fix chips and worn surfaces.
- Fast Curing: Each layer of composite cures within just a few seconds under the LED light, which means treatment is completely set before you leave appointment.
- Thermal Expansion Matching Natural Teeth: Tooth-colored composite responds to temperature at a rate that closely mirrors real teeth, lowering the likelihood of stress fractures over time.
- Repairable if Damaged: Should a composite filling develops a crack with age, a dentist can typically be repaired rather than fully replacing the restoration — saving time and expense.
- Same-Visit Function: Most patients are able to chew without restriction shortly after the appointment, because composite cures completely during the visit.
The Tooth Colored Fillings Process: What to Expect
- Initial Assessment and Detection — At the start of treatment, our clinician examines the affected tooth through advanced imaging plus a visual inspection. That evaluation ensures confirm the extent of the damage and confirm that a tooth colored filling is the right solution.
- Shade Selection — With the help of a color-matching chart, the provider picks the composite resin tint that perfectly mirrors your surrounding tooth color. This step guarantees the restoration integrates beautifully into your teeth.
- Anesthesia and Comfort Preparation — Numbing medication is placed near the treatment site ensuring you experience virtually no discomfort while we work. Most people are surprised that treatment is comfortable modern dental procedures are.
- Cavity Preparation and Site Cleaning — The decayed enamel is gently cleared using a dental drill or occasionally using air abrasion. Because tooth colored filling material bonds directly, just the damaged portion has to be removed — healthy enamel stays intact.
- Composite Application — Filling material is placed in multiple layers. After every layer, a specialized dental light hardens each coat in just seconds. The incremental technique builds in superior bond quality producing a well-controlled final contour.
- Sculpting and Polishing — After every layers are placed, your dentist sculpts and smooths the composite so it mirrors your tooth's natural bite. A bite test is performed to confirm your jaw closes completely natural.
- Post-Treatment Check and Aftercare Guidance — At the close of the visit, the provider goes over care recommendations in the period post-appointment. Any sensitivity you might feel usually temporary and minor.
Who Is a Great Fit for Tooth Colored Fillings?
Tooth colored fillings are a great choice for a wide range of people. Patients who have any size of cavity — regardless of whether it's located on a front tooth or a back molar — can generally be considered a strong candidate. People who want a mercury-free approach to dental care often prefer composite options. Past new cavities, tooth colored fillings are also ideal for patients who swap out older amalgam fillings which have cracked or simply started to show.
Kids and adults are good candidates for tooth colored fillings, though the optimal approach is influenced by things such as cavity size, where the tooth sits in your mouth, as well as your overall oral health. Patients with significant cavities, heavily damaged teeth, or back teeth that absorb heavy chewing loads could be better served by an inlay or onlay rather than a standard filling. The clinician will always walk you through all choices so that you are 100% confident before treatment begins.
Keep in mind that those suffering from untreated gum disease should receive gum treatment first, because gum health matter greatly for successful restorations. During your consultation, our clinicians at ClearWave Dental & Aesthetics take time to review your full mouth health before making any recommendations.
Tooth Colored Fillings Common Questions Answered
How long does a a tooth colored filling last in the chair?One tooth colored filling is finished in 30 to 60 minutes total. Multiple fillings or cases where more than one teeth require a filling could require additional chair time, but your dentist provides you a clear time estimate during the evaluation.
Do tooth colored fillings hurt?Numbing medication is applied at the start, meaning most people feel nothing while the filling. After the anesthetic dissipates, a degree of tooth sensitivity near the filling is completely expected which usually fades within a day or two. Ibuprofen or acetaminophen is usually sufficient if sensitivity occurs.
How long do tooth colored fillings hold up?Through consistent oral hygiene, tooth colored fillings can last 7 to 15 years or more — occasionally even more depending on factors like chewing patterns, oral hygiene, the position of the filling in the dental arch. Consistent six-month cleanings at our office help the team monitor each filling's catch any problems before they worsen.
Are tooth colored fillings an insured procedure?A number of insurance policies include tooth colored fillings in part, however the amount can vary based on the policy and the tooth's is being treated. A few insurers may cover composite fillings at the same level as amalgam, whereas others may require a co-pay for the composite option. Our billing specialists will verify your benefits before your appointment.
Should I replace my silver silver fillings with tooth colored fillings?Absolutely — a number of people opt to update outdated amalgam fillings with tooth colored fillings for cosmetic and health-related benefits. If the current amalgam filling has cracked, begun to leak, or is simply visually outdated, updating it with a tooth colored alternative is a well-established and straightforward procedure. A short exam will confirm if the old filling needs replacing now.
Tooth Colored Fillings for Local Patients
Coral Springs, FL has all read more kinds of families, professionals, and long-time residents, many of whom make the drive to ClearWave Dental & Aesthetics from areas like Eagle Trace and Wyndham Lakes. Patients commuting along Sample Road love that we're conveniently accessible and typically offers flexible scheduling options for new and returning patients. With the Coral Springs Museum of Art and the Coral Springs Medical Center mark a neighborhood we're proud to call home.
Whether you're based around the Sportsplex corridor or along Atlantic Boulevard, the office is just a short drive from receiving the restorative care you've been meaning to schedule. Our team at ClearWave Dental & Aesthetics works hard at making each visit as efficient and painless as possible, from parking to checkout. These tooth-matched restorations represent just one of the many ways we help our patients here smile confidently.
Schedule Your Tooth Colored Fillings Visit Today
You don't have to to put up with a cavity that hurts or a smile dotted with gray metal spots while a seamless, modern alternative is available. At ClearWave Dental & Aesthetics can help you get the restorative care you need using tooth-matched composite fillings that look great over the long term. Call our Coral Springs office now and schedule your visit — we're ready to walk you through your options and help you get started on the path to a healthier, more beautiful smile.
ClearWave Dental & Aesthetics | 8894 Royal Palm Boulevard | Coral Springs FL 33065 | (954) 345-5200