Tooth-colored fillings are a seamless way to repair cavities.
Aesthetic Cavity Repair
No one is thrilled when their dentist detects a cavity in their tooth. The good news is with advances like air abrasion technology and composite fillings, treating cavities is less invasive than ever before.
We combine a gentle, patient-centered approach with training in cosmetic dentistry to banish decay and restore your tooth in a way that matches your enamel and blends in with the rest of your smile.
Absolutely. Fixing tooth decay in its earliest stages stops it from progressing and allows you to keep more of your tooth’s natural structure intact. Not to mention, treatment is easier and more affordable. But no matter what stage a cavity is in, we can help.
Getting a Filling
01
Have an Exam
We’ll take x-rays and a wellness scan. Then, Dr. Sundeep Chohan, General Dentist, will perform a comprehensive exam.
02
Talk Treatment Plan
Our South Surrey dentist will create a treatment plan aimed at eliminating decay, protecting your oral health and restoring your smile. Just have a small cavity in one tooth? We’ll get you in ASAP. Need extensive work? Dr. Chohan will help you sequence your treatment plan so it fits your timeline and budget.
03
Get Comfortable
You’ll put on some headphones, sit back and watch your favorite show on TV. If your cavity can be treated with air abrasion, you may not even need an anesthetic. Otherwise, Dr. Chohan will numb the affected area so you don’t feel a thing during the procedure.
04
We’ll Restore Your Tooth
Once you’re numb, Dr. Chohan will remove any decay, clean and prime the space and fill it with a composite resin that’s color-matched to your smile. She’ll then cure the material, check your bite and shape and polish the filling so it looks like your natural tooth.
Benefits Of
Tooth-Colored Fillings
Excellent Aesthetics
Tooth-colored fillings match the color of your natural enamel, so no one will notice you’ve had dental work.
Mercury- and Metal-Free
We use safe, biocompatible composite resin materials for our white fillings. They’re free of mercury and metal.
Preserves Oral Health
We don’t need to remove as much tooth structure to place a composite filling. Plus, treatment protects your tooth from further damage and restores its strength.
What is a tooth-colored filling?
A tooth-colored filling, or composite filling, is made up of different biocompatible materials that form a strong bond with your enamel. Because the filing material is, well, tooth colored, it’s a highly aesthetic option for restoring a tooth after a cavity, chip, crack or fracture.
Why do I need a filling?
Tooth decay eats away at enamel leaving behind a hole, or a cavity, in your tooth. After the cavity is treated, the hole needs to be filled and sealed with a filling to prevent bacteria and acids from causing further decay and infection. Plus it makes your tooth strong enough to bite and chew effectively and restores its appearance.
Sometimes, we also use composite fillings to fix chipped or fractured teeth. Just like after cavity treatment, the filling strengthens the tooth and prevents the bacteria and acids from penetrating the affected area and causing more damage.
What are the benefits of composite fillings vs. silver amalgam fillings?
Composite, or tooth-colored, fillings have several advantages over silver amalgam fillings, including:
- A+ aesthetics. We color-match the composite resin to your smile. Once the filling material is placed, cured and polished, it will be undetectable. Silver fillings, on the other hand, are obviously pretty noticeable.
- Safe. Composite fillings are metal- and mercury-free. Even though the mercury levels in silver fillings are considered safe, in rare cases, these fillings can be an issue for patients with metal allergies.
- Down for anything. Composite fillings are incredibly versatile. We can use the material to fix cavities and damage, as well as for cosmetic purposes like hiding a discolored area of your tooth.
- Stronger bonding. The material used for tooth-colored fillings creates a stronger bond with the tooth than silver filling material does. Because of this, less natural tooth structure has to be removed to place a composite filling and it’s less likely to fall out.
- Temperature is no problem. Unlike a silver amalgam filling, a composite filling doesn’t expand and contract in response to hot or cold.
Does getting a filling hurt?
Nope! Getting a filling doesn’t hurt. Our South Surrey general dentist, Dr. Chohan, numbs the area around the affected tooth with a local anesthetic. You won’t feel much of anything while she gets rid of the decay and places the filling. If you’re anxious about it, ask us about your sedation options!
