Tooth-Colored Fillings in
the Raleigh Area

For decades, cavities in anterior teeth have been filled with tooth-colored filling material called composite. There are several different types of composite materials, and all can be shaded to match the color of your natural teeth. Composite fillings are a dental treatment that restores the natural beauty of teeth that have been blemished by dental decay. They are also used to restore chipped or broken teeth.

Molars, or back teeth, have traditionally been filled with amalgam, otherwise known as silver fillings. This type of filling material has been used for over a century. It is known for its durability and strength, although it is not necessarily aesthetically pleasing. In the past, composites were not used for back teeth because they could not hold up under the pressure. However, advances in dental technologies and materials have produced composites that are just as durable and strong as silver fillings.

White, Natural Color Dental Fillings

Many people are opting to have their amalgam fillings replaced with composites. Some do it because of allergies to metal while others have concerns about the mercury content of the silver fillings. Then there are those who prefer to have completely white teeth showing when they laugh. White natural color fillings give you a dazzling smile from front to back.

Composites are made from a combination of plastic and glass or ceramic. There are different types of composites used for different applications. Each has its advantages. Large cavities are filled with a type of resin that requires a special light for curing. The filling is placed in layers, and each layer is hardened with the aid of the light. Another advantage of these types of filling materials is that they bond to the tooth and less tooth structure is lost in preparation. Amalgam fillings require preparation of the space, so the filling will not fall out. Composite fillings do not require that type of preparation.