White (Tooth-Colored) Fillings
Composite Fillings
The American Dental Association Council on Scientific Affairs has concluded that both amalgam and composite materials are considered safe and effective for tooth restoration.
Composite fillings are a mixture of glass or quartz filler in a resin medium that produces a tooth-colored filling. They are sometimes referred to as composites or filled resin fillings. Composite fillings provide good durability and resistance to fracture in small-to-mid size restorations that need to withstand moderate chewing pressure. Less tooth structure is removed when the tooth is prepared, and this may result in a smaller filling than that of an amalgam. Composites are”bonded” adhesively held into a cavity, often allowing a more conservative repair to the tooth.
The tooth is prepared by conditioning the surface, then applying a bonding liquid. Then the plastic resin is applied and sculpted into the desired shape by Dr. Majcher. The resin is set, then trimmed, smoothed and polished to a natural appearance.
The bonded filling can improve the appearance of a tooth significantly. However, since the plastic resin used is not as strong as your natural tooth enamel, it is more likely to stain, chip or break than your natural teeth.
The cost is moderate, although higher than amalgam fillings, depends on the size of the filling and the technique used by the dentist to place it in the prepared tooth. It generally takes longer to place a composite filling than what is required for an amalgam filling. Composite fillings require a cavity that can be kept clean and dry during filling and they are subject to stain and discoloration over time.