Tooth-Colored Fillings – East Hartford, CT

Seamlessly Treat Tooth Decay

Woman with beautiful smile after tooth-colored fillings in East Hartford

For generations, dentists used a material known as silver amalgam, a mix of mercury and metals, to address dental decay. While the amalgam serves its purpose well enough, it has some significant downsides, including the fact that its color looks nothing like natural tooth enamel. Today, many dentists have abandoned amalgam fillings and use tooth-colored fillings instead. On this page, you will learn more about tooth-colored fillings, how they work, and the numerous advantages they offer.

Why Choose Comprehensive Dental Associates of Central Connecticut for Tooth-Colored Fillings?

Gentle treatment from a team of experts
Natural-looking results
Efficient, comfortable service

What Are Tooth-Colored Fillings?

Illustration of three teeth, one of which has a filling

Rather than being made out of a mix of metals, tooth-colored fillings are made out of a flexible composite resin. The resin is composed of a mixture of glass particles, plastic, and other materials. Your dentist can shade-match it to blend in seamlessly with the color of the surrounding dentition. Tooth-colored fillings offer an excellent way to treat mild to moderate tooth decay. They stop decay from worsening to the point where you require a more extensive restorative procedure.

How Do Tooth-Colored Fillings Work?

Female patient admiring smile after receiving tooth-colored fillings

We begin the tooth-colored filling process by making sure you are comfortable. Often, this involves numbing the tooth that we will be working on. Once it is numb, your dentist prepares the tooth by removing decayed tissue from within the cavity. Next, the resin is inserted. A special curing light hardens the filling in a matter of seconds. The last step in the process is to adjust the filling’s size and shape so that it will not interfere with your bite.

From beginning to end, the entire treatment process usually takes less than an hour. You will be able to eat and drink immediately following your appointment. However, you may wish to avoid sticky, hot, and cold foods temporarily because your tooth might be extra sensitive for a few days.

Do I Need a Tooth-Colored Filling?

Smiling male patient in dental chair, waiting for tooth-colored filling

Some indications that you may benefit from a tooth-colored filling include:

A tooth is extra sensitive
You see a visible hole in a tooth
You have an old metal filling that you would like to replace
Your floss always catches on a particular spot in a tooth
Food often gets caught in a specific spot in a tooth

Benefits of Tooth-Colored Fillings

Woman pointing at smile, enjoying benefits of tooth-colored fillings

One of the most obvious benefits of tooth-colored fillings is their aesthetic appeal. Additional advantages include:

They are metal-free, so you will not have to worry if you have sensitivities or allergies to metal
They contain absolutely no mercury (metal fillings are about 50% mercury)
They require less tooth preparation than metal fillings, allowing you to retain as much of your natural dentition as possible
They will not stain your teeth
They have the potential to last for years
They do not conduct temperatures like metal fillings, so there is a reduced risk of dental sensitivity

Would you like to learn more about tooth-colored fillings or the other restorative treatments that we offer? Contact us today. Our friendly team is ready to assist you.