
How Can I Tell If I Need a Filling?
It’s not always easy to tell when you need a filling, so keep an eye out for these warning signs:
- Tooth sensitivity to hot or cold temperatures
- Throbbing pain in your tooth or pain when chewing
- Floss tears or shreds when you use it
- You see a hole or dark spot on your tooth
- An old filling has cracked or fallen out

What Are Tooth-Colored Fillings Made of?
Instead of using a mixture of metals like tin, silver, and mercury like amalgam fillings, tooth-colored fillings are made of composite resin. This biocompatible material consists of fine particles of ceramic, dental plastic, and glass. Not only is this much safer for your smile, but composite resin bonds very well to tooth structure, which helps it effectively seal out bacteria. On top of it all, composite resin can be shaded to match the color of your natural enamel for seamless results!

How Are Tooth-Colored Fillings Placed?
It usually only takes one quick appointment to repair a cavity with a tooth-colored filling. First, we’ll numb the area and removed all the decayed tissue. As we clean your tooth, we’ll create a custom shade of composite resin that mimics the color of the rest of your pearly whites.
Then, the putty-like resin is applied directly to the cleaned-out portion of your tooth. Once the filling has been carefully sculpted to look like a natural part of your tooth, we’ll use a special curing light to harden it and bond it into place. Finally, we’ll polish it and ensure your bite feels comfortable, and then you’ll be ready to go out and enjoy your healthy, beautiful and cavity-free smile!

What Are the Benefits of Tooth-Colored Fillings?
Tooth-colored fillings are a popular choice among both patients and dentists because of benefits like:
- Lifelike results that are practically indistinguishable from the rest of your smile.
- Far less (if any) removal of healthy enamel compared to amalgam fillings.
- Reliable and long-lasting materials that won’t damage enamel over time like amalgam fillings sometimes can.
- Minimized dental sensitivity and protection from future decay thanks to how well composite resin bonds with tooth structure.
- 100% metal- and mercury-free materials that are safe for all smiles, especially those with metal allergies or sensitivities.
Leaving cavities untreated can lead to serious and painful complications, so don’t wait to have yours treated! Give us a call today to schedule your next appointment with your Braintree dentist.