Did you know that more than 90% of adults will have a cavity at some point in their lives? Therefore, it’s likely that you have had a filling before, or if not, that you will in the future. Maybe your restoration is made of amalgam, or a mixture of several metals such as silver. These kinds of fillings do an excellent job of protecting the tooth, but they have the potential to mar your beautiful smile, especially if they’re in a front tooth. At Inwood Village Dental, we offer tooth-colored fillings as a better solution. If you’re ready to replace your old metal fillings with a seamless alternative, then contact us today!

Most tooth-colored fillings in Inwood Village are made of a material called composite resin, which is a blend of fine acrylic and glass particles. Our dentists are able to customize the material so that it perfectly blends in with your existing tooth enamel. These fillings are all but guaranteed to not stand out in your smile. Once the filling has been placed, onlookers shouldn’t even be able to tell that you had dental work done!

First, your dentist in Inwood Village will numb the affected area with a local anesthetic to ensure that you won’t feel a thing. After selecting the appropriate shade of the composite resin and removing any areas of decay in the tooth, the resin material (which is malleable like a putty) will be applied to your tooth in layers until the tooth is built up to perfection. Next, it is hardened into place with a curing light. Once we have given your tooth a polish and made any final adjustments, we’ll send you on your way to enjoy your newly restored smile.

There are several reasons why you should opt for tooth-colored fillings instead of traditional amalgam ones, including:

• To place a metal filling, more enamel must be removed when compared to their composite counterparts. Tooth-colored fillings allow you to maintain more of your natural tooth structure.
• Metal fillings expand and contract when exposed to hot and cold stimuli, which can eventually cause your tooth to fracture. Composite resin fillings shouldn’t change their size no matter the temperature.
• The color of amalgam fillings can seep into the tooth, causing a grayish stain. Tooth-colored fillings are just that – the color of your natural tooth.
• Composite resin fillings don’t contain any metal whatsoever. This is a major advantage for people who are worried about the trace amounts of mercury that are present in amalgam fillings.
• There is generally less post-treatment discomfort associated with tooth-colored fillings.