Cavities and small fractures can cause much larger issues if left untreated. In the past, metal restorations called amalgam fillings (or silver fillings) served a need but left many teeth discolored and strained from the wedging effect of the metal. Today, we use tooth-colored composite resins that blend into the tooth structure and chemically bond to create a strong, permanent restoration.
Composite fillings serve both functional and aesthetic roles, often at the same time. For example, a cavity invading the front of a tooth along the gum line may be visible in your smile line. We gently remove the soft, discolored area and replace it with a tooth-colored filling, restoring the tooth and enhancing its appearance.
Composite fillings contain a mix of liquid resin embedded with finely ground glass particles. We mold the composite to the prepared tooth structure and harden it within seconds using a blue light. We shape and polish the restoration to a high shine, completing the process.
