Tooth Colored Fillings

What causes Dental Cavities?

A dental cavity, or tooth decay, is the result of harmful oral bacteria that form and organize on the tooth surface, usually in a deep pit, groove, or between the teeth where it is harder to clean with normal brushing and flossing.

After we eat, sugars and carbohydrates that are left behind on tooth surfaces combine with the bacteria to become acid. Slowly, the acid creates a hole in the tooth surface, or “cavity”. Once the decay process has started, the tooth cavity gets bigger and bigger. Eventually it can reach the tooth nerve and become painful.

Our dentists and team want to do everything we can to help prevent tooth decay. We recommend regular preventive cleanings and exams for all our patients; this gives our dentists the opportunity to monitor your oral health and watch for any early warning signs of dental cavities. We will also help you develop a good home care routine to take care of your smile between visits. This is especially helpful for children to learn about their own dental health as they mature.

Tooth-Colored Dental Fillings

There are two types of dental fillings. Some of us have silver fillings (also called amalgam fillings) in our back teeth. Amalgam is still in use today for some treatment situations. Most of the dental fillings that our Dalton dentists provide are tooth-colored, or “composite“ dental fillings. Dental composite filling material is made of a combination of medical grade plastics and ceramic compounds. Dental composite is available in a wide variety of tooth-colored shades to match your smile.

What are the Steps of a Tooth-Colored Dental Filling?

Composite fillings are placed using an adhesive bonding process:

The cavity is cleaned and shaped to prepare the area for a dental filling. Depending on the size of the cavity and the tooth surfaces involved, our dentists may use the Waterlase® dental laser to remove the decay and prepare the tooth.

• Waterlase® technology uses laser energy and fiber optics combined with a water spray to work in fine increments. This helps to reduce the amount of dental anesthetic needed to make the procedure comfortable. Very small or shallow fillings can sometimes be completed with no anesthetic at all.

After the area is shaped and prepared for the filling material, the dentist applies a bonding solution, following by the composite filling material, which is in a soft state. The material is hardened in place in stages with a special dental curing light.

After the composite dental filling is polished and smoothed, it is ready to go - there is no additional hardening time needed for composite fillings. You are able to eat and drink normally. We will, of course, advise you to wait until the dental anesthetic wears off so you don’t accidentally bite your lip or tongue.

Most dental fillings take about an hour, sometimes a little longer if we are treating more than one tooth.

Restoring Your Smile with Tooth-Colored Fillings

Dental composite materials are also used for cosmetic bonding procedures to restore small areas in front teeth. The wide range of shades available are designed to closely match your natural teeth; dental bonding is an affordable way to improve your smile.

Composite fillings are a conservative and economical repair option for small dental cavities. The adhesive bonding process helps to minimize the amount of existing tooth structure that must be removed during preparation to retain the filling.

Larger areas of tooth decay may require a dental crown that is designed by your dentist and produced in a dental laboratory. A dental crown is made of dental ceramics or a combination of ceramics and metal; it is a more long-lasting restoration for a tooth with extensive decay than a composite or amalgam dental filling.