Tooth Colored Fillings

What are tooth-colored fillings?

Tooth-colored fillings are cavity treatments and attractive alternatives to traditional amalgam (metal) restorations. A cavity is tooth decay that forms a small hole in your tooth. It occurs when plaque, a clingy bacteria, sticks to your teeth and eats away at your protective enamel. Over time, the hole grows. It can erode your natural tooth structure and spread to surrounding teeth.

Before placing a filling, the Eric Klein D.D.S. & Associates team removes the decayed portion of your tooth. Then they rebuild the shape and size of the tooth with a filling. Tooth-colored fillings help treat decay without the visibility of metal fillings.

What are the benefits of tooth-colored fillings?

Tooth-colored fillings offer many benefits for patients, such as:

Appearance

Tooth-colored fillings blend in with the natural shade of your teeth for an aesthetically pleasing addition to your smile.

Time

As fast alternatives to crowns, tooth-colored fillings can repair damage in a single visit and no downtime.

Versatility

Tooth-colored fillings can repair small cracks and chips in your smile. They may also help even out misshapen teeth.

Tooth preservation

Unlike metal fillings, the team applies tooth-colored fillings in liquid form. They cushion every crevice of the tooth, allowing the team to remove less of your natural tooth structure.

What does getting tooth-colored fillings involve?

The team at Eric Klein D.D.S. & Associates can remove harmful decay and place your tooth-colored filling in one day. They may administer an anesthetic to keep you comfortable before treatment. Next, they use special tools to remove the decayed area while preserving as much of the natural tooth structure as possible. 

The team applies tooth-colored fillings as a liquid, ensuring they cover all your chewing surfaces. After applying each layer, they harden the filling material with a special curing light. They repeat this process until the filling restores the shape and size of your teeth.

How do I care for tooth-colored fillings?

Protecting your tooth-colored fillings is essential for preventing future decay. To extend the lifespan of your filling, the team recommends that you:

• Invest in a fluoride toothpaste
• Brush and floss at least twice a day
• Limit your sugar intake
• Schedule teeth cleanings twice a year

If you have bruxism (teeth grinding), you should also consider investing in a night guard to preserve your fillings and protect your teeth.

Call Eric Klein D.D.S. & Associates today or schedule an appointment online to learn more about tooth-colored fillings.