Tooth-Colored Fillings

Natural Repair

Why Composite Instead of Metal

A composite filling is a tooth-coloured resin that we place directly into the prepared tooth and harden with a curing light. Because it bonds to the tooth structure rather than simply sitting in it, we can often remove less healthy tooth than a traditional amalgam filling required.

Replacing Old Silver Fillings

Many of our patients have amalgam fillings placed decades ago. The American Dental Association, CDC, WHO and FDA all consider amalgam safe, so there’s usually no medical need to replace a sound one. But old fillings do eventually fail — the margins open, letting bacteria seep underneath, or the remaining tooth cracks around them. When that happens, or when you simply dislike the dark appearance, composite is an excellent replacement.

What to Expect

We numb the area, remove the decay or old filling, condition the tooth, place the composite in layers and cure each layer, then shape and polish it to match your bite. Most fillings take well under an hour, and you can eat normally straight away — no waiting for the material to set.

When a Filling Isn’t Enough

If too much tooth structure is missing, a filling won’t hold up to chewing forces. In those cases an inlay, onlay or crown gives a far more durable result. We’ll always tell you when we think the bigger restoration is the wiser investment.