You might not think of beauty when it comes to filling a cavity, but composite fillings offer an aesthetically pleasing look compared to materials used in the past. If you need to have a restoration like a filling, you might as well get one that looks nice in addition to providing the function you need. Also known as white fillings, composite fillings treat decay while maintaining the natural appearance of your tooth.
Composite fillings serve the same purpose of other types of fillings; they are used to fill holes in teeth that are caused by decay or other damage. They are created to match the color of your tooth using a shade guide. Dentists are able to correct tooth decay, yet have relatively no effect on what your tooth looks like.
Appearance isn’t the only advantage composite fillings have over other options like amalgam, or silver, fillings. White fillings require less of your tooth to be removed, because they are able to stay securely in place without grinding down your original tooth. This promotes the stability of your tooth so there is less risk of it being weakened and potentially breaking apart.
Because there is more tooth structure left in place, if the need ever arises for subsequent work on your tooth, it is possible. Patients who need further work after an amalgam filling are often faced with getting a crown. Composite fillings can help avoid more invasive treatments like crowns.
Another benefit of white fillings is that they don’t cause discoloration on your tooth or surrounding gums. Aging amalgam fillings can create a dark or bluish color in the area around the filling, but composite fillings don’t have this risk since it is the same color as your tooth.
Composite fillings can be placed anywhere in your mouth that they are needed without worry of being noticeable. They bond securely to your teeth, and you can feel confident laughing and talking as if no restoration were ever done. All of these benefits add up to the beauty of composite fillings.
We treat patients from Huntington Beach and the surrounding area
