We use tooth-coloured fillings as they are the best option cosmetically. Using a tooth-coloured composite to repair teeth, these fillings are a far more aesthetic alternative to traditional amalgam.
White fillings are made from tooth-coloured resin, a mixture of plastic and glass that can be blended to match the natural shade of your teeth. We use the composite resin to restore cracked or chipped teeth and small cavities, as well as restoring teeth that have had root canal treatment.
How long the filling lasts depends on where it sits in your mouth and how heavily your teeth come together when you bite. While composite resin itself isn’t as hard as traditional amalgam, it can still last a long time. It’s also bonded directly to the tooth enamel, rather than attached to the tooth with dental cement.
What does having a white filling involve?
We first take x-rays and scans to see how much of the tooth we will need to restore with the filling. We then numb the area with a local anaesthetic and the decayed part of the tooth is removed.
A gel is applied to the tooth, creating tiny holes to allow the composite material to bond effectively. The acidic gel is washed away and the tooth dried. A priming agent is applied so the composite filling will form a strong bond.
The colour matched shade of composite is then applied in layers and moulded to match the shape of the tooth. The resin is hardened with a special bright light and it is then polished to look like a natural part of the tooth.