The modern, tooth-colored alternative to traditional mercury amalgam (silver) fillings
Why a Composite Filling?
- Decay on a portion of any tooth
- Decay around an existing filling
- Desire to replace old-fashioned mercury (silver) fillings
- Desire to maintain a healthy, beautiful smile
What is a Composite Filling?
A composite filling is a tooth-colored resin material. After tooth decay is removed, this material is layered into the tooth. Each layer is cured with a high intensity blue light and the final surface is shaped and polished. The final restoration is virtually invisible.
The benefits of a Composite Filling
Composite fillings are much more than just attractive. They are environmentally non-toxic because they use no mercury as amalgam filling do. Composites require less tooth structure removal because they are bonded to the tooth, as opposed to "wedged" in to the tooth as amalgam fillings are. As a result of not needing to remove healthy tooth structure, the tooth is much less likely to fracture. Composites will not stain the tooth dark or corrode as amalgam fillings do. Since composites use bonding adhesives, they do not leak around the periphery of the filling, which decreases new decay from forming and requiring replacement.
For information on how to care for your new composite filling, click here .
Are there other treatment options?
Inlays or onlays , whether they are ceramic or gold, are the state-of-the-art alternatives to composite fillings, depending on the size of the cavity and whether the most durable restoration is desired. In cases of extensive decay or loss of healthy tooth structure, ceramic or gold crowns may be the only alternative.