Using Tooth Coloured Fillings to Restore Your Smile

Why Teeth Need Fillings

Teeth can become damaged due to decay or trauma. When a tooth loses some of its structure then it is important to get it repaired by your dentist in Watton. Repairing a tooth will ensure any infection is removed and will replace the tooth structure that has been lost. Repairing a tooth helps to restore strength to the tooth, so it will probably look a lot nicer, but a filling will also prevent the tooth from becoming infected by ensuring it is completely sealed up so bacteria cannot enter. Tooth coloured fillings are a great way to help ensure your natural teeth last for as long as possible.

Why Choose Tooth Coloured or White Fillings?

In the past tooth coloured fillings tended only to be used to repair front teeth, while larger cavities in back teeth were often filled using silver coloured amalgams. While amalgam is still quite widely used and it is a very hard wearing material, tooth coloured restorations have become increasingly popular. This is largely due to the introduction of newer materials that are strong enough to repair back teeth and which include composite resins.

Composite Resin

Composite resin is a type of plastic that is very strong and hard-wearing and is able to withstand quite large biting forces. This material is excellent for repairing teeth as it bonds to the natural tooth very strongly, sealing out bacteria. In addition, your dentist in Watton will only need to remove the tooth structure that is damaged, preserving the maximum amount of the healthy tooth underneath. Composite resin fillings can be placed in one appointment at Clarence House Dental Care as your dentist will choose the exact colour of composite to match your tooth, before preparing the tooth and placing the filling material, gradually hardening and shaping the material until the filling looks and feels natural. Often several different shades of filling material are used to create a beautiful restoration that is virtually invisible.

Porcelain Fillings (Inlays and Onlays)

If you have a large cavity in a back tooth, your dentist in Watton may suggest using a slightly different kind of filling called an inlay or onlay. These are made from porcelain and are stronger and longer lasting than composite resin, making them ideal for areas in your mouth that are subjected to lots of biting and chewing pressures. The procedure for making a porcelain filling is slightly different as this is an ‘indirect filling,’ meaning it has to be made in a dental laboratory so you will return at a later date to have it fitted and cemented in place. Although a little more expensive than composite resin fillings, porcelain inlays and onlays will last longer and will not change colour or stain.

IF you have silver coloured amalgams in your mouth that you’d prefer to get rid of why not book an appointment with our dentist in Watton? We will ensure the amalgam is removed and disposed of safely before repairing your tooth with the very latest and strongest tooth coloured filling materials. Call us today on 01953 882777 to find out how we can help you.