What is a Tooth coloured Filling? Tooth-coloured fillings are made of a blend, or composite, of plastic resins and silica fillers. These substances mimic many of the qualities of natural tooth structure, such as wear-residence and translucency. Dental composite also helps strengthen teeth.

What Are The Types Of Tooth Coloured Dental Fillings?

When it comes to choosing the right type of dental filling for a cavity, patients now have several options.

Currently, most people opt for tooth-coloured fillings for a more discreet result. However, in certain situations, a metal filling may be the more appropriate choice.

A dentist can help patients make the most appropriate selection based on age, dental history and the location of the affected tooth.

Tooth-Coloured Materials

Filling the decayed tooth with a tooth-coloured material results in a more natural-looking and less noticeable appearance. 

This option is preferred by most patients, especially while receiving routine dental care for decay towards the front of the mouth. 

Tooth-coloured fillings can be made of: 

• Porcelain or ceramic

• Resin composite which is a combination of porcelain and plastic

• Glass ionomer which is a combination of acrylic and glass, infused with fluoride

Porcelain and resin composite are usually used on exposed tooth areas, while glass ionomer fillings are generally used to treat decay below the gum line.

A popular choice among dentists and patients, Composite Fillings can be easily accommodated to match the natural shade of the patient’s teeth. 

What Are The Advantages of Tooth Coloured Fillings?

1. Quick Treatment
The procedure of the tooth-coloured filling is quick and painless and takes less than an hour to fill one or two cavities.

At Smiles Royale Dentistry, Dr. Ajay Thaker is quite adept with these fillings and works as efficiently as possible to limit the amount of actual treatment time.

In most cases, a filling can be placed, cured and polished in about 15 to 20/minutes after the anaesthesia sets in.

2. Aesthetically Appealing
Tooth-coloured fillings easily blend in with the surrounding tooth structure making it unnoticeable and only white sparkling teeth visible, unlike the silver amalgam and gold fillings.

3. Long Lasting
The tooth-coloured fillings could last for 10 years or more if proper care of teeth, gums, and fillings is taken.

Dr. Ajay Thaker explains that Brushing twice a day, flossing daily, getting a dental examination and cleaning every six months can go a long way in protecting the fillings.

4. Leaves More Healthy Tooth Structure Intact
As the composite resin that is used in tooth-coloured fillings bonds to the teeth, there is the least need to remove as much natural tooth structure as is needed with silver amalgam or gold fillings, allowing more conservative treatment of the cavity and maintaining more of the natural tooth structure.

5. Mercury-Free
Some amount of Mercury, which is a toxic material, is present in Silver amalgam fillings.

Though it is very low and not considered dangerous to health, many patients prefer a mercury-free option, such as tooth-coloured fillings.

How Long Do Composite Fillings Last?

Composite fillings can last around 10 years if the fillings are well taken care of. However, someone at very high risk for cavities may not get that many years out of a composite filling.

Porcelain fillings, which can also be tinted for a near-natural finish can last between 10 and 15 years in a healthy adult.