How Cosmetic Fillings Restore Your Teeth

Dental fillings don't have to change the appearance of your teeth. Cosmetic fillings look just like your natural tooth color and offer an excellent alternative to silver amalgam fillings. Your downtown Washington, DC, dentist Dr. Leslie Bonner offers fillings at The Bonner Dental Network.

What are cosmetic fillings?

Cosmetic fillings are made of composite resin, a soft material composed of powdered plastic and glass. Composite resin is available is tinted to match common tooth colors, ensuring that your dental work is never noticeable. Before you receive a filling, your downtown Washington, DC, dentist will choose a color that closely matches your natural tooth color.

What happens when I receive a cosmetic filling?

Your dentist will use a local anesthetic to numb your mouth, then remove the decayed portion of your tooth. Eliminating decay also requires the removal of a margin of healthy tooth structure around the decayed area. The larger the area removed, the weaker the tooth may become. Cosmetic fillings require removal of a smaller margin than silver amalgam fillings, which helps your tooth remain strong.

After the decay is removed, your dentist will apply an etching solution that will help the filling adhere to your tooth, followed by bonding material and the composite resin filling. Your new filling will quickly harden after it's exposed to an ultraviolet curing light.

Cosmetic fillings offer a few important benefits. They bond to your teeth, improving their strength, and don't react to temperature changes. Silver amalgam fillings, in contrast, contract and expand when they're exposed to hot or cold foods or beverages. Constant contraction and expansion can eventually weaken your tooth and increase your risk of cracks and fractures.

Are you ready to improve your smile with a cosmetic filling? Call your downtown Washington, DC dentist Dr. Leslie Bonner of The Bonner Dental Network at (202) 249-9131 to schedule your appointment.