Composite Fillings

Preventing Tooth Decay

Trusted Solutions for Cavities

Have you had silver fillings for over 20-30 years?  Did you know the lifespan of these is only 10-15 years? Over the years, the tiny particles that are packed in the hole to fill it break down and leave holes where food and liquids harbor and create decay of the tooth underneath the filling. 90% of these fillings have decay underneath them when removed. We can remove the filling and decay and place nice white fillings that seal the hole and that protect your teeth from decay.  An added benefit is that they are less likely to cause your tooth to fracture over time and therefore the tooth is less likely to need a crown in the future.

Cavities and small fractures can cause much larger issues if left untreated. In the past, metal restorations called amalgam fillings (or silver fillings) served a need but left many teeth discolored and strained from the wedging effect of the metal. Today, tooth-colored composite resins blend into the tooth structure and are chemically bonded to the tooth providing a strong, permanent restoration.

Composites serve both functional and aesthetic roles, often at the same time. For example, a cavity invading the front of a tooth along the gum line may be visible in your smile line. By gently cleaning out the soft, discolored area and replacing it with a tooth-colored filling, the tooth is restored and looks better than ever.

Composites contain a mix of liquid resin embedded with finely ground glass particles. After being molded to the prepared tooth structure, blue light is applied directly to the composite, hardening the filling material within seconds. Once it’s shaped and polished to a high shine, the restoration is complete.