Andrew Kleiman, DMD

Dental Information Center

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Composite (Tooth Colored) Fillings

The clear alternative to traditional silver fillings.

The Problem:

• Decay or loss of tooth structure involving a minimal to moderate amount of the tooth
• Desire to replace silver fillings with a more natural looking filling
• Desire to maintain a white, beautiful smile

The Solution:

A composite filling is a tooth colored quartz-like material. After tooth decay is removed and cleaned, this tooth colored material is layered into the tooth. Each layer is hardened or cured with highly intense visible light, and the final surface is shaped and polished to match the tooth. The final restoration is virtually invisible.

Advantages:

Composite fillings are more than just attractive. Unlike traditional silver fillings, composite fillings bond to the remaining tooth structure restoring strength back to the tooth. While silver fillings may be acceptable in small situations, they can often lead to tooth fracture in fillings involving more than one surface of the tooth. Silver fillings also require the removal of healthy tooth structure in order to be able to properly place the filling. Composite fillings conserve healthy tooth structure because they require much less of the tooth to be removed to treat decay. The end result is a beautiful, strong tooth.

Disadvantages:

The initial investment in a composite filling is higher than that of a traditional silver filling. This is due to the fact that the composite material is more expensive and the restoration is more difficult and time consuming to place. However, this initial investment is offset by the reduced likelihood of restoring potentially fractured teeth and its more natural appearance.

Alternatives:

Inlays/onlays are sometimes good alternatives to composite fillings, offering excellent long term durability. In cases of extensive decay, inlays/onlays or crowns are the only alternative.