Cosmetic Fillings & Composite Bonding
‘White Fillings’, otherwise known as ‘Composite Fillings’, have become a central part of modern-day dentistry and are used regularly in back teeth, as well as front teeth. Here at Wellington Dental Practice, we have invested in a range of cutting-edge composite materials, allowing our clinicians to achieve excellent aesthetic and durable results, anywhere in the mouth.
Composite Bonding is a cosmetic dentistry treatment used to enhance your smile. During the procedure, your dentist applies tooth-coloured composite resin material to the affected teeth to change their shape, size, or colour.
When is composite bonding recommended?
Composite bonding is used to make cosmetic improvements to your smile. The procedure uses tooth-coloured composite resin material to:
- Conceal chips or cracks in your teeth.
- Camouflage tooth discoloration.
- Close gaps and spaces between your teeth.
- Make your teeth look longer.
- Change the shape of your teeth.
The same composite resin material used in composite bonding is also used in restorative dentistry as white fillings on front and back teeth to;
- Fill cavities.
- Where appropriate, replace old silver dental fillings with a more cosmetic alternative.
- Protect and cover teeth roots that have been exposed due to gum recession.
How common is composite bonding?
Cosmetic composite bonding is very common. In fact, it’s one of the most frequently performed procedures in dentistry today.
Dental composite bonding vs veneers: What’s the difference?
Porcelain veneers are custom-made ceramic shells that adhere to the front surfaces of your teeth. To place them, your dentist typically must remove some enamel from your natural teeth. Once placed, porcelain veneers are not reversible. They’ll need replacing every 10 to 20 years.
Dental bonding, on the other hand, may not require significant enamel removal if any. As a result, bonding can be reversible. You’ll likely need touch-ups every three to 10 years.
You might hear dentists use the term “composite veneers.” This is when your dentist uses composite resin material to cover the entire surface of your tooth.
Traditionally, improving the look of front teeth was done using porcelain, in the form of crowns or veneers. These techniques can still be the best option in certain cases, but modern composite materials can provide a cheaper, and more conservative option, where appropriate. Once composite is bonded and placed, sculpted, and polished, modern composites can look incredibly natural.
If you wish to improve the look of your front teeth, speak to your dentist who can help decide on the best plan for your individual case.
Smile Makeover
Whitening Treatment + Aesthetic Composite Fillings
BEFORE
AFTER
White fillings are classed as adhesive restorations, which means they bond directly to the tooth structure. This means they do not have to be held in place by retentive grooves or undercut as with traditional amalgam (metal) fillings. All of this means our clinicians can be more conservative when preparing teeth for composite fillings, retaining as much natural tooth tissue as possible.
In addition to allowing more conservative preparation, composite fillings add more strength to teeth once placed, compared to traditional amalgam fillings. This can help to reduce the risk of chips and fractures in future.
In back teeth, composite fillings can be used to replace tooth tissue that has been lost due to decay or fracture. Once sculpted and polished they are virtually invisible.