Another way to improve your smile is through tooth-colored, or white, composite fillings. Although these have been available for many years, their strength and resistance to wear has improved tremendously over the past 20 years. They are the most widely used type of restoration today.

Tooth-colored fillings are made from a white composite material can closely match your existing tooth color. They are often used to replace old, stained or discolored front tooth fillings or posterior silver tooth fillings, and in most cases are undetectable from your natural teeth.

EverSmile Dentistry can also use tooth-colored fillings to sculpt into an area of enamel near the gum line where gums have receded or deep root abrasion has occurred due to excessive or overly-forceful tooth brushing. The fillings reduce further abrasion into the root, thus avoiding the potential of invading the root area, which could lead to requiring root canal treatment.

If a tooth is too fractured, chipped or decayed, we sometimes cannot use tooth-colored fillings, and in these cases, we recommend a porcelain crown for a better, more long-term restoration.

Tooth whitening may also be recommended before replacement of old fillings so that lighter tooth-colored filings can be used.

Silver fillings are still offered, however, we recommend them mostly for posterior teeth. We find that many people no longer want silver fillings, or worry that the silver tooth fillings will lead into the adjacent enamel and cause “graying” of the surrounding tooth.