When tooth decay requires treatment, the appearance of your smile doesn’t have to suffer. Tooth-colored dental fillings offer a natural-looking solution that restores both function and aesthetics, eliminating the metallic appearance of traditional amalgam fillings. At Brightworks Dentistry in Dunwoody, we provide metal-free dental restorations that blend seamlessly with your natural teeth, effectively treating decay.
Brightworks Dentistry, led by Dr. Patrice Robbins, DMD, and Dr. Preston Shurley, DDS, offers comprehensive dental care with a focus on conservative and esthetic dental solutions. Our state-of-the-art dental office combines advanced technology with personalized treatment to create durable white fillings that protect your tooth structure while enhancing your smile’s appearance and boosting your confidence.
What Are White Fillings?
White fillings, also known as composite fillings, are dental restorations made from a mixture of plastic and fine glass particles that create a tooth-colored resin. These dental composite materials bond directly to your tooth structure, requiring less drilling and preserving more of your natural tooth compared to traditional amalgam fillings. The composite resin is carefully color-matched to your natural teeth, creating virtually invisible restorations.
Unlike metal fillings, which can expand and contract with temperature changes, potentially causing cracks in your teeth, composite fillings maintain a stable size. This conservative tooth preparation approach protects the integrity of your remaining tooth structure while effectively repairing decay or damage.
Benefits of Choosing White Fillings
Tooth-colored dental fillings offer numerous advantages beyond their natural appearance. These composite restorations bond directly to your tooth surface, creating a tight seal that helps prevent bacteria from entering and causing further decay. The material strengthens your tooth structure rather than potentially weakening it over time.
For patients seeking a mercury-free dentist near Dunwoody, white fillings offer a metal-free alternative that eliminates concerns about mercury exposure associated with amalgam fillings. The BPA-free composite materials used at Brightworks Dentistry are safe, biocompatible, and designed for long-term durability.
The White Filling Procedure
The process of receiving composite fillings at Brightworks Dentistry is straightforward and comfortable. During your appointment, we start with numbing the area using local anesthesia. Then, using minimally invasive dentistry techniques, we will remove the decayed portion of your tooth while preserving as much healthy tooth structure as possible.
The prepared tooth surface is treated with a conditioning gel to ensure optimal bonding of the composite material. The tooth-colored resin is then carefully placed in layers, with each layer hardened using a special curing light. After achieving the proper shape and thickness, your dentist will carefully adjust the filling to ensure proper bite alignment and finish by polishing the restoration to match your natural tooth’s sheen.
Replacing Old Metal Fillings
Many patients visit our Dunwoody dental office seeking to replace old amalgam fillings with more attractive metal-free dental restorations. This cosmetic dental filling replacement can transform your smile, eliminating the dark appearance of metal and replacing it with natural-looking composite material.
During the safe removal of amalgam fillings, our team takes precautions to ensure minimal exposure to mercury vapor. The old filling is typically removed in larger chunks to reduce particulate matter, and high-volume suction is used throughout the procedure. Once removed, the tooth is prepared for the white filling using the same bonding procedure described above.
White Fillings vs. Traditional Amalgam
When comparing composite vs amalgam fillings, several factors beyond aesthetics come into play. While amalgam fillings have been used for over a century and are known for their durability, they require more extensive tooth preparation, potentially weakening the tooth over time. They also tend to be more visible when laughing or speaking.
Composite fillings require less removal of healthy tooth structure and bond directly to the tooth, potentially strengthening it rather than just filling the space. Historically, white fillings were considered less durable for back teeth. However, advancements in dental materials have significantly improved their longevity, even in posterior composite restorations that undergo heavy chewing forces.
Additional Tooth Restoration Options
For larger areas of decay or damage, Brightworks Dentistry offers additional metal-free restorative options. Porcelain inlays and onlays provide an alternative when a standard filling isn’t sufficient but a full crown isn’t necessary. These custom-crafted restorations are created to precisely fit the prepared portion of your tooth, providing exceptional strength and aesthetics.
For patients with minor cosmetic issues, such as small chips or gaps, dental bonding procedures using the same composite resin material can provide quick and affordable smile improvements. These conservative treatments can often be completed in a single visit without removing tooth structure.
Maintaining Your White Fillings
The lifespan of white fillings can vary depending on the size of the restoration and its location in your mouth, but proper care can help them last many years. Regular brushing and flossing around fillings helps prevent decay at the margins where the filling meets your tooth. Avoiding habits like chewing ice or using your teeth as tools will help prevent damage to your restorations.
During your regular preventative dental care visits at Brightworks Dentistry, Dr. Robbins and Dr. Shurley will evaluate your existing fillings to ensure they remain intact and functional. Early intervention for any issues can prevent more extensive treatment needs in the future.
Schedule Your Appointment for White Fillings in Dunwoody
Take the next step toward a natural-looking smile with tooth-colored fillings from Brightworks Dentistry. Our experienced team provides comprehensive dental evaluations to determine the best restoration options tailored to your specific needs. Using digital dental technology and a holistic dental approach, we provide metal-free dental treatments that enhance both your oral health and confidence.
Contact Brightworks Dentistry today at (770) 458-3600 or fill out our contact form to schedule your appointment at our Dunwoody location. We understand the importance of choosing a dentist you can trust to restore your smile, so we strive to provide gentle, high-quality care in a warm, welcoming environment.
