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In the
past, teeth were most commonly repaired with amalgam (silver) fillings or gold
restorations. Thanks to advances in modern dental materials and techniques,
teeth can be restored with a more aesthetic and natural appearance. There are
different types of cosmetic fillings currently available. The type used will
depend on the location of the tooth and the amount of tooth structure that needs
to be repaired.
The
most simple form of 'white filling' is technically called a Composite.
It
is made up of a composite quartz resin and usually contains some sort of light
sensitive agent. These light cured composites are extremely cosmetic and most
often bonded into place in one appointment. For this reason, they are often
referred to as "bonding". They can be used in both the front of the
mouth as well as in your back teeth. These materials come in a variety of shades
so that they will match the color of your own teeth. Some of these composite
materials have been specifically designed to actually withstand the incredible
forces you can exert when chewing on your back teeth.
In
order to bond a filling material to your tooth it is first necessary to remove
decay, prepare the tooth and then to condition the enamel and dentin. Once
conditioned, a thin resin is applied which bonds to the etched surface. The bond
strength of these fillings is incredible. Today we can bond plastics and even
amalgam (silver fillings) to your teeth. Bonding increases the strength of these
restorations far beyond those of only a short time ago.
After
placement, composites are hardened by shining an intense light on them for a
specified period of time, usually around 40 seconds. Since we tend to look at
this light all the time ( many times a day) it is necessary for us to protect
our eyes from it with an orange shield. It is not necessary for us to protect
your eyes since you look at this light only once in a while. However, it is
probably a good idea for you not to look directly into the light anyway
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