What are tooth-colored fillings?

Tooth-colored filling is a dental restoration treatment that helps in repairing decayed teeth using a tooth-colored plastic mixture containing powdered glass. It helps in preventing further decay in a tooth whilst reconstructing the tooth structure and natural appearance.

It is also known as white fillings (or) composite fillings.

Are composite fillings safer than silver fillings?

Both tooth-colored fillings and silver fillings are safe. However, the composite fillings are lauded and highly preferred because of the amenities the restorative appliance hold.

As the composite resin blends with your teeth shade better than silver fillings, it fixes the aesthetic disadvantage of amalgam fillings.

Likewise, preparing a tooth to place composite fillings requires less removal of tooth structure. So it does not cause teeth sensitivity in the long run as silver fillings do.

What are the other advantages of tooth-colored fillings?

Apart from aesthetically appearing, the white fillings hold a lot of benefits to the patients as:

• The tooth-colored filling procedure is a quick process and completed within a single appointment.
• Low risk of cracks in teeth because the resin does not contrast and expand due to temperature variations as metal fillings.
• The composite filling materials do not discolor the treated tooth in a long run.
• The white fillings are prepared with durable resin polymer materials and embedded with nano-hybrid glass ceramics. This enhances the resin’s compressive strength.
• It does not contain any toxic substances.

How are tooth-colored fillings placed?

The dental fillings process involves 2 steps.

First, the dentist prepares the tooth for composite fillings by removing the decayed or infected substances in the enamel which cannot be restored.

Then the filling materials are placed in the place of evacuated substances and the dentists use a special light to harden the filled layers. The process is followed by shaping the filled materials to fit the treated tooth.

Is the tooth-colored filling process painful?

No. Typically, a dental filling process is performed under anesthesia.

So, you will not encounter pain during the white filling treatment except the strange sense of drilling to clean out the tooth’s decayed portions.

What will happen after repair a tooth with white fillings?

Few people do not have any abnormalities after getting fillings whereas some people meet pain and sensitivity in the filled tooth.

It is a common thing and exists until the tooth becomes familiar with the new material. It can last around 2 to 3 weeks and some over-the-counter medications provide you the relief.

Despite being an artificial appliance made of plastic, it requires a proper dental routine as your natural teeth.

Are there other varieties of tooth-colored fillings available?

Yes. You can get 2 types of tooth-colored fillings other than composite material which is mostly recommended.

The other substances include:

• Porcelain
• Glass ionomer

How long will the white fillings last?

The composite fillings are more durable than the other types of tooth-colored fillings. However, the fillings do not last forever and they need to be replaced every 7 to 12 years.