White Tooth Colored Fillings
Composite Resins (also called white or tooth colored)
Introduced in the 1960s, Composite resin dental fillings were created as an alternative to traditional amalgam (silver metal & mercury) fillings. A mixture of silicon dioxide and plastic, composite resin fillings are strong and durable and cosmetically superior to silver amalgam fillings. Dr. Barton places composite fillings only, having made the switch from silver/mercury amalgam fillings in 1994.
In addition to filling decayed areas, Composites are also used for cosmetic improvements of the smile by changing the color of the teeth and reshaping disfigured teeth.
Following preparation, Dr. Barton places the composite in layers, using a light specialized to harden each layer. When the process is finished, he will shape the composite to fit the tooth and then polish the composite to prevent staining and early wear.
Advantages of composite resins over traditional silver fillings:
- Dr. Barton is able to blend composite shades and shapes to match the color of your original tooth surface.
- The composite filling is actually bonded to your tooth serving to support the remaining tooth structure, preventing breakage and providing insulation against temperature changes.
- Average-sized and small-sized composites have demonstrated similar duration to silver fillings--seven to ten years.
- The preparation of composite fillings requires less removal of tooth structure to achieve adequate strength. This is because composite resins bind to enamel via a micromechanical bond. As conservation of tooth structure is a key ingredient in tooth preservation, Dr. Barton prefers placing composite over amalgam fillings.
- As composite materials and placement techniques continue to improve, more dental patients are seeing the value of composite fillings. Consequently, more dentists are offering them and many dental insurance plans provide coverage for their use.
Whitening | Veneers/Laminates | Fillings | Crowns