Tooth-Colored Fillings In Gainesville, FL
If you’re looking for a natural-looking way to repair tooth decay or damage, composite fillings may be the perfect solution. At Van Dyke General and Implant Dentistry, we offer composite fillings made from a durable, tooth-colored material that restores both strength and style to your smile. Contact us today to schedule a consultation and find out if composite fillings are right for you!
What Is A Composite Filling?
Composite fillings, also known as tooth-colored fillings, are made of powdered glass or quartz and plastic resin designed to match the color and appearance of natural teeth. Like other fillings, composite fillings are used to repair decayed, cracked, broken, or chipped teeth. Patients often prefer these tooth-colored fillings to alternatives because they are nearly indistinguishable in color from their surrounding natural teeth.
At Van Dyke General and Implant Dentistry, our dentists customize each filling to match the shade of your teeth, so that they most accurately resemble the rest of your smile!
Benefits Of Composite Dental Fillings
Composite resin fillings offer a wide range of unique benefits, making them an attractive and advantageous choice for many patients. Specifically, dental fillings that use composite resin materials provide the following advantages for our patients.
- Natural Looking
- Usually Completed In One Visit
- Resists Breakage & Fracture
- Versatile
- Minimal Temperature Sensitivity
Different Types Of Dental Fillings
Composite Fillings
Composite resin teeth fillings are made from a combination of plastic and resin materials. The mixture is inserted into the cavity while the mixture is still soft, before it is hardened with a bright light. Composite fillings are matched to the color of your natural teeth.
Silver Amalgam Fillings
Amalgam fillings are commonly used to fix dental damage and are made from a mixture of materials, such as mercury, silver, copper, tin, and zinc. Silver amalgam fillings are durable and relatively inexpensive but are more noticeable than composite fillings, as they are silver.
Ceramic Fillings
A ceramic filling is made from a type of porcelain material. As with composite fillings, ceramic fillings can be color-matched to your natural teeth. However, ceramic fillings may be more costly than other types of fillings, and they typically require more than one visit to the dentist.
Glass Ionomer Fillings
Glass ionomer fillings are made with a ground-glass filler. Like composite fillings, they are tooth-colored to match the surrounding natural teeth. These fillings release fluoride for cavity prevention but are less durable than other types of fillings, such as amalgam fillings.
Gold Fillings
Gold fillings are far more expensive than any other type of filling material, so they are less popular than composite resin. However, despite their cost, they are highly durable and can last more than 20 years. These fillings typically require multiple visits to the dentist.
How Long Do Composite Fillings Last?
Due to the materials used in their composition and their customized fit to each tooth, composite fillings are highly durable and can last for many years before requiring replacement. However, they may have a shorter functional lifespan than other filling materials, such as amalgam. In general, the average lifespan of composite fillings ranges from five to ten years, depending on several factors.
Some factors that affect the lifespan of composite fillings include oral hygiene habits, the size of the filling, and the filling’s location in the mouth. Additionally, fillings may not last as long for individuals who are at high risk of developing cavities.
The Composite Fillings Procedure
The tooth filling process with composite fillings is less invasive than that of the traditional amalgam filling, requiring less drilling than patients may have previously experienced with other filling procedures. First, we numb the area where the cavity is located, and the teeth are isolated. Then, we remove decay from the tooth, and the composite is bonded to replace the decayed tooth structure. Composites will last longer if kept clean, and regular cleanings are maintained to monitor the material. Over time, all composites must be replaced as materials will wear down in the mouth. Contact Van Dyke General and Implant Dentistry to learn more about this procedure or to schedule an appointment!
