Tooth-Colored Fillings in Chattanooga
Standard silver amalgam fillings can be unattractive. They are noticeable when you smile and can cause your teeth to appear discolored.
If you need a filling but don’t want it to be visible, tooth-colored composite fillings are appealing alternatives. Composites can also be used for minor reshaping of chipped teeth or to fill small gaps between teeth to give you a more even, appealing smile.
What Is a Composite Filling?
Composite fillings are usually formed using a mixture of resins, fillers, and colorants. They are applied to the tooth in layers and “cured."
Unlike silver amalgam fillings, composites can be made to match the color of your natural teeth, giving you a more seamless-looking filling than amalgam fillings.
Since the composite bonds directly to your tooth, these fillings require less removal of healthy tooth, which leaves the remaining tooth structure more intact and stronger. They are also less susceptible to cracking and chipping due to temperature changes in your mouth than amalgam fillings.
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 is then etched to create a rough surface to bond the composite to. The dentist will match the color of your natural tooth and mix up a composite that is then applied in layers with curing between each layer. Once built up, it will be shaped to contour to your bite and look natural, then polished smooth.
For areas needing larger fillings, a semi-direct or indirect filling may be used. These consist of composite that is either built up inside the mouth and then removed for curing, or a filling that is manufactured outside of the mouth and cured. This allows for stronger curing and a more sturdy composite filling. Once the filling is cured, it is bonded to your natural tooth.
Why Choose Composite?
Composite fillings are usually more expensive than silver amalgam fillings, but they offer a better esthetic than the metal fillings. They can also act more like natural tooth, helping to avoid fractures due to uneven stress when biting.
Contact our office today to make an appointment or if you have any questions or concerns about tooth-colored composite fillings
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Unlike amalgam fillings, tooth-colored fillings are a custom-mixed resin composite. The composite mixture is matched to your tooth color and bonded directly to the tooth. This usually results in a filling that is nearly indistinguishable from your natural tooth.
Most insurance companies will cover composite fillings up to the cost of a silver amalgam filling. You may be responsible for the difference in cost between the more expensive composite filling and the amalgam filling. Our office will happily review your insurance coverage and discuss your financial options with you.
Composite fillings bond directly to your tooth, which results in the removal of less healthy tooth structure. Amalgam fillings require additional sculpting of the tooth to provide anchors for the solid amalgam. Composite fillings are not as hard and inflexible as amalgam fillings, which means stresses caused from biting and chewing can be distributed more naturally and reduce the risk of your tooth cracking.
Meet Our Doctor:
Dr. Primesh Modi
Dr. Primesh Modi was born in Houston, TX but grew up in Chattanooga. After graduating from Notre Dame High School here in Chattanooga, Dr. Modi continued his education at the University of Memphis, earning his BS in Computer Engineering Technology in 2005 and a BS in Biology in 2007.
Dr. Modi experienced a great deal of dental care during the first part of his life and discovered that he had a passion for providing outstanding care to others. It was clear to him that his next step would be dental school, and he ...
