Tooth-Colored Fillings - Melbourne, FL

If you're embarrassed about your smile because of decay or dark fillings in your teeth, you may be a good candidate for tooth-colored fillings. Instead of relying on silver amalgam fillings of the past, our office has opted for tooth-colored alternatives that work to protect your teeth from future fracture, all while ensuring you can have the confidence to show your smile off to friends, family, co-workers and people you’re meeting for the very first time. Call our office today and we’ll help you protect your smile for many years moving forward!

What are Tooth-Colored Fillings?

When a tooth breaks down or fractures in some way and either a small or medium-sized restoration is needed to bring back its functionality, dental fillings can offer a long-term solution. While silver amalgam fillings have been the standard for cavities and other forms of damage for many years, tooth-colored fillings are instead made up of a silicon dioxide-filled, tooth-colored plastic mixture known as composite resin. This material can restore teeth to an attractive and healthy state. Composite resins are used for multiple dental treatments, but they are most commonly used to restore damaged teeth or replace silver amalgam fillings that no longer function as intended.

When are Tooth-Colored Fillings Used?

In order to determine when a dental filling should be used, we consider how large the cavity or fracture is in the tooth. If more than two-thirds of the natural tooth structure is compromised, then a dental crown would be more suitable for restoration. However, if less than two-thirds of the tooth is damaged, we can utilize a dental filling. While tooth decay is the most common reason for needing a dental filling, sometimes teeth can crack or break when biting down on something very hard or after experiencing a bad fall or injury while playing contact sports. Regardless of the circumstance, it’s our top priority to make sure your smile is both functional and esthetically-pleasing when placing tooth-colored fillings.

Why are Tooth-Colored Fillings a Good Option?

Composite resins represent several advantages over traditional silver or amalgam fillings. For example, because composite resins are not made of metal, we can blend and mix shades to find the perfect color to match your natural teeth. This means only you and your dentist will know you have fillings. Another pro is that the tooth/composite bond actually supports the remaining tooth structure, deterring breakage and insulating against temperature changes. Medium and small composites can last seven to ten years – that’s as long as traditional amalgams. Best of all, composite resins allow us to keep more of your natural tooth structure intact than amalgams. We believe in conservative dentistry – the more natural tooth structure you keep, the better teeth you’ll likely have in the future.