Tooth-Coloured Fillings
Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Before proceeding, you should seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner.
Modern dentistry advancement allows us to repair teeth without leaving a permanent mark on your smile. For some, the appearance of an amalgam (metal) fillings is unattractive. They are noticeable when you smile and can cause your teeth to appear discoloured or dark.
If you need a filling but don’t want it to be visible, tooth-coloured composite fillings can be an appealing alternative. Composites can also be used for minor reshaping of chipped teeth or to fill small gaps between teeth to give you a more uniform, appealing smile.
What Is a Composite Filling?
Composite fillings are usually formed using a mixture of plastic, microscopic glass particles, and colourants. Your dentist applies them to your tooth in layers and “cures" to harden them. Unlike silver amalgam fillings, composites can be made to closely match the colour of your natural teeth.
Since the composite bonds directly to your tooth, these fillings require less removal of healthy tooth structure, which leaves more remaining healthy tooth intact.
Composite fillings are also less susceptible than metal fillings to cracking and chipping due to temperature changes in your mouth.
How Is a Composite Filling Placed?
To place a composite filling, the dentist will numb the area if necessary and remove any decay. The remaining tooth structure is then etched to create a rough surface for the composite to bond to.
The dentist will match the colour of your natural tooth and mix up a composite that is then applied in layers with curing between each layer. Once built up, the filling will be shaped to contour to your bite and look natural and then polished smooth. To the untrained eye, your composite filling will not be noticeable.
Why Choose Composite?
Composite fillings offer a better esthetic than metal fillings. They can also act more like natural tooth structure, helping to avoid fractures due to uneven stress when biting.
Contact our office to schedule an examination or to ask your questions about tooth-coloured composite fillings.
Frequently Asked Questions
Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Before proceeding, you should seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner.
Composite fillings bond directly to your tooth, which results in less healthy tooth structure removal. Amalgam (metal) fillings require additional preparation to provide anchors for the solid amalgam.
Composite fillings do not expand and contract as is common with metal and the temperature changes inside your mouth.
We are happy to discuss the type of filling that will work best for you.
Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Before proceeding, you should seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner.
Unlike metal fillings, tooth-coloured fillings are a custom-mixed resin composite. We match the composite mixture to your tooth colour and bond it directly to your tooth. This usually results in a filling that is nearly indistinguishable from your natural tooth.
If the chip in your tooth is small and located in the right place, we may be able to repair it using cosmetic dental bonding. Our dentist will perform an exam to determine if dental bonding can benefit you.
We never want our patients to feel pain or suffer from poor dental health. We prioritize dental emergencies and do our best to treat you quickly so that you can get back to your regular schedule again. We often treat dental emergencies on the same day. Contact us at the first sign of trouble so that we can get you taken care of!
Our Team
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Dr. Gwen Flanagan
Principal Dentist
Gwen is Newcastle born and bred, growing up in Cooks Hill before graduating in dentistry at Sydney University in 1987. Gwen brings years of experience, gained from practicing dentistry in Public Hospitals and Private Practice in Sydney and also working overseas in the United Kingdom (British) dental system. Gwen worked in Cobar, NSW in her own dental practice for several years before returning to her home town of Newcastle. She has spent the balance of her dental career in our great city, where she currently provides her years ...
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