Up until a decade or two ago, metal fillings were still the standard of care when patients had a cavity that needed to be filled. While metal fillings are durable, they can negatively impact your smile. Here are 3 reasons why we use tooth-colored fillings in our Monroe Township, NJ dental office.
Tooth-Colored Fillings Look Natural
Rather than a dark metal filling, a tooth-colored filling comes in a variety of shades to match your surrounding teeth. By the time we complete your filling, no one will notice that you have one, even when they are on front teeth.
Tooth-colored fillings do not whiten or stain in the same way as natural teeth, so if you decide to whiten your teeth, this is something to consider.
The same material we use to fill cavities can be used to make repairs to teeth, such as filling in chips or closing small gaps in a process called dental bonding.
Tooth-Colored Fillings Are Conservative
Metal fillings do not bond directly to teeth, so removing enough tooth structure to anchor your filling in place is necessary to keep the filling in place. Tooth-colored fillings bond directly to teeth with a special bonding agent, so it is possible to remove less healthy tooth structure and retain more of your tooth.
Tooth-Colored Fillings Are Durable
The material we use for tooth-colored fillings, called composite, is made of a mixture of BPA-free plastic and microscopic glass power for a natural and durable way to fill teeth. While dental restorations are strong, they are subject to wear and tear from chewing or from a teeth-grinding habit. It’s normal to have to replace dental restorations from time to time.
We welcome you to get in touch to learn more about tooth-colored fillings or the other services we provide. We look forward to helping you find a solution for a healthy smile.
