Dental Fillings

A tooth-colored filling is a mixture of a tooth-colored resin with clear glass particles that give it strength.

Tooth colored fillings come in many shades so they very closely match the color of natural teeth. They are bonded into place and require less removal of healthy tooth structure than silver fillings.

As with any filling, having a tooth colored filling involves some inherent risks both to the remaining tooth structure and to the tooth
colored filling itself:

• Tooth-colored fillings are limited because they seal a tooth but do not prevent it from breaking.
• Tooth-colored fillings may fracture; the larger the tooth-colored fillings, the greater the risk of fracture.
• Tooth-colored fillings may decay around the edge of the filling if your dentist is unable to keep the tooth clean and dry while placing the Tooth-colored filling.
• Preparing for and placing a tooth-colored filling can irritate the tooth and cause “post-operative” sensitivity which may last for up to 3 months.
• Teeth that have had tooth-colored fillings may need a root canal treatment less than 1% of the time during the lifetime of the tooth.

The alternatives to having a tooth-colored filling are:

• Having a silver filling or “amalgam” placed.
• Having a gold or porcelain inlay/onlay restoration placed.

Bite problems may lead to the tooth colored filling or tooth breaking or loosening.

• A Tooth colored filling may have a good color match with your natural tooth when it is placed but less of a match as your natural tooth ages.
• Tooth colored fillings can collect stain over time from foods  such as black tea, coffee and wine.
• Tooth colored fillings may chip or break if used for abnormal activities (e.g. biting fishing line, sewing thread or finger nails, opening bottles).