How do Composite Resins and Tooth Coloured Fillings Work?

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How do Composite Resins and Tooth Coloured Fillings Work?

Modern dental techniques, materials and treatments give dental patients a lot more options when it comes to modify or changing their smile.

One treatment option in particular, a dental technique called bonding or direct tooth bonding, is able to be used for many cosmetic dental problems.

See an example of Direct Tooth Bonding from our Smile Gallery.

You don’t have to live with chips, cracks, stains or gaps in your teeth. If your situation allows you to choose dental bonding as a treatment option, then your dentist first prepares your tooth with an etching solution.

Next, special dental composite resin materials are carefully chosen to match the colour of your own teeth. These materials are applied to your teeth and shaped into just the right shape and contouring.

The composite resin shaped on your tooth is then harden with a curing light and bonded in place.

Teeth that have been bonded look very natural. For some people bonding can be an affordable and effective way to have your teeth cosmetically altered to get the smile you always wanted.

If you are interested in bonding, speak with your dentist to find out if dental bonding is right for you.

Use of Filling

Composite resins, or tooth-coloured fillings, provide good durability and resistance to fracture in small- to mid-size fillings that only need to withstand moderate pressure from the constant stress of chewing. They can be used on either front or back teeth. They are a good choice for people who prefer that their fillings look more natural.

When you have larger holes to fill in back teeth or weak teeth that need to be supported then porcelain is the material of choice.

No dental filling lasts forever. Some studies show that composite fillings can be less durable and need to be replaced more often than amalgam fillings.

It generally takes longer to place a composite filling than it does for a metal filling. That’s because composite fillings require the tooth be kept clean and dry while the cavity is being filled. Tooth-coloured fillings are chosen by patients more often than amalgam or gold fillings probably due to the cosmetic advantage they offer. In a society focused on a white, bright smile, people tend to want fillings that blend with the natural colour of their teeth.

Prevention of Dental Diseases

In fact, the best dental filling is no dental filling at all. Most dentists in Australia will urge a prevention is best philosophy when it comes to dental health and oral hygiene.

You can dramatically decrease your risk of cavities and other dental diseases simply by:

  • brushing your teeth twice a day with fluoride toothpaste
  • flossing daily
  • eating a balanced diet
  • visiting the dentist regularly
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For a complete list of the different treatments we use to give patients the smiles, you may like to explore each of the sections below.

Crowns & Bridges

Crowns & Bridges

If it hurts when you bite down, it is possible that your tooth is cracked. If a tooth is cracked, it is a serious condition and does usually require a crown.

Inlays & Onlays

Inlays & Onlays

Where there is minor damage to tooth enamel, inlays and onlays are often recommended as an alternative to fillings or a crown because they preserve a great deal of the natural tooth.

Sports Mouthguards

Sports Mouthguards

Dental injuries can be painful, disfiguring and expensive to treat. Specially-designed mouth guards can reduce the risk and severity of dental injuries.

Amalgam Fillings

Natural Coloured Fillings

The latest techniques and composite resins designed colour matched to your natural tooth shades.

Dental Implants

Dental Implants in Brighton and Adelaide

One of the most significant developments in modern dental medicine is the application of dental implants, which has led to them becoming one of the most popular dental procedures of today.

Root Canal Treatment

Root Canal Treatment in Brighton and Adelaide

Endodontic treatment is more commonly known as root canal therapy. Advancements in dental medicine and the development of specially designed instruments, means a root canal procedure can be accomplished in complete comfort in as little as two appointment visits.

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CEREC – Single Visit Dentistry

Advanced CEREC machine enables our dentists to create and fabricate your new restoration in a single appointment – saving you time and expense.

Regular Dental Maintenance

Regular Dental Maintenance

An appropriate dental education and treatment plan from your initial consultation helps you to establish improved oral health for pleasing and vibrant smiles.