Composite fillings, also known as white, plastic, or tooth-colored fillings use a tooth-colored resin made from powdered glass and plastic resin. This resin is used to fill in cavities, giving the filling a natural appearance, while enabling it to blend in with the surrounding tooth structure for a natural look.
Should I get a tooth-colored filling?
If you need a filling and want to maintain the natural look of your teeth and the filling is for a small or medium area, then yes, this treatment is available. If you have a known metal allergy, or if you are prone to allergies, you may also want to consider a tooth-colored, or what is called a composite filling since they do not use metal. Some other possible benefits of composite fillings include their ability to strengthen teeth through their bonding process, their ability to spare natural tooth structure during placement, and their ability to be used to fix broken, worn, or chipped teeth.
The difference between a tooth-colored filling and an amalgam filling?
Tooth-colored fillings are made out of powdered glass and plastic resin, blend in with the existing tooth structure, are able to preserve the natural tooth structure by bonding to the tooth, and are able to be used on allergy-prone individuals. However, tooth-colored fillings also take longer to place, have to be replaced more frequently, and can be more expensive than amalgam fillings. Amalgam fillings are composed of various metals, are highly durable, last a long time, and are more affordable. However, they have a metal appearance and allergy-prone individuals may not be able to use them.
If you are interested in getting a tooth-colored filling, contact our office, Shunga Family Dental Care, today! We are proud to serve Topeka, as well as the surrounding communities of, Auburn, Dover, Silver Lake, Rossville, Maple Hill, Wakarusa, Berryton and Tecumseh.