Treatment
Tooth-Colored Fillings
Decay removed and the tooth rebuilt in composite, shaded and polished so the repair disappears into the enamel.
A filling restores a tooth after decay has been removed. We use tooth-colored composite rather than metal amalgam, bonded directly to the remaining tooth structure. Beyond the obvious cosmetic advantage, bonded composite allows us to remove less healthy tooth than a traditional metal filling requires.
The area is numbed, the decay is removed, and the cavity is cleaned and prepared for bonding. Composite is then placed in thin layers, each cured with light, and shaped to rebuild the tooth's original anatomy. Finally the shade is matched and the surface polished, which is the step that decides whether the filling is invisible or merely adequate.
Treating decay early keeps it small. The same cavity left for another year is a crown, and the year after that it can be root canal therapy. Restoring it now costs you one appointment, preserves the living tooth, and leaves nothing visible when you smile or laugh.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Tooth-Colored Fillings.
Anyone with new decay found at an examination, a tooth that has become sensitive to sweet or cold, a small chipped edge, or an old amalgam filling that is cracked, leaking, or simply no longer something they want visible. Composite is also used cosmetically to reshape edges and close small gaps.
Routine and comfortable. Local anesthetic means you feel pressure and vibration rather than pain. Most patients are surprised how quickly a single filling is finished, and if you have several to do we will group them so you are not returning week after week.
A single small filling takes twenty to forty minutes. Larger restorations, or several in one visit, take proportionally longer but are usually still one appointment. The tooth is fully functional as soon as you leave.
Composite is excellent for small and moderate cavities but has limits: where decay has undermined a large portion of the tooth, a crown is the more durable answer, and we will say so rather than placing a filling that will fail. Composite can stain slightly at the margins over many years and may need refreshing. Most insurance plans cover fillings well.
You can eat as soon as the numbness has gone, and composite is fully set before you leave, so there is no waiting period. Mild sensitivity to cold or to biting for a week or two is normal, particularly on deeper cavities. If it persists beyond that or the bite feels high, come back and we will adjust it.
Get Your GLOW On
Your smile deserves this kind of attention
A boutique practice in Aliso Viejo, built around smile design, comprehensive care, and the kind of unhurried attention that makes dentistry feel different. We would love to meet you.