Tooth-Colored Fillings
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| What Are They? |
| Tooth colored fillings
are also referred to as composites, because they are
composed of a complex composite of plastic and zirconia/silica.
Composites were introduced in the 1960's, and have
undergone continual improvements in durability, color
stability, material handling qualities, and esthetics.
Fillings are considered one type of tooth restoration.
Other restorations include inlays, onlay, veneers and crowns.
Tooth colored fillings are actually bonded to teeth
compared to silver / amalgam fillings, which are not. |
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| How Do They Look? |
| Tooth colored filling material comes
in a great number of colors (shades), and are matched
to your individual tooth color. Typically, a different
type of material is used for front and back teeth.
The materials used for front teeth have a high shine;
whereas, the materials for back teeth are designed
for strength - both look great! It's nice that if you
have a filling it can be virtually undetectable. |
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| How Long Do They Last? |
| The factors that determine the lifespan
of a particular filling include: the tooth (molars
take more force than bicuspids), the size of the filling
relative to the tooth (smaller fillings will usually
be more durable than larger fillings), and how teeth
are cleaned and maintained daily. |
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| How Should They Feel? |
| A new filling should feel natural,
like your other teeth. After the anesthesia has worn
away and you can feel your teeth and bite again, you
should not notice anything particularly different.
It should be smooth and comfortable. You can eat on
tooth colored fillings right away (as soon as anesthesia
is gone) compared to silver / amalgam fillings, which
you cannot. |
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| NOTE: If you detect a noticeable sensation
when biting or chewing, this means the bite is too
tall. Unlike silver / amalgam filling material that
is softer, and will wear away or chip, the bite on
tooth colored filling material will not improve with
time. If the bite remains too tall a tooth can also
become temperature sensitive. Please don't hesitate
to let call if your filling requires an adjustment. |
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