Dr. Rajen Gordhandas

Tooth decay is treated removing the damaged portion of your tooth and substituting it with ‘fillings’. Fillings can be made up of different materials such as silver amalgam, porcelain, gold or even plastic. Hence these plastic, tooth-colored, glass mixtures that are used to restore decayed teeth are known as composite fillings. Composites are also used for changing the color of or reshaping disfigured teeth. 

How are they placed? 
The dentist sets the composite in layers employing a specialized UV Laser light to harden each of the layers. After this, the dentist moulds the composite to fit in your tooth. The composite is then polished to prevent premature staining or wearing out of the composite. Good shaping and polishing of the tooth to produces a virtually invisible restoration.

When are composite fillings used? 
White fillings can be used for cosmetic options as well. 

Esthetic dentistry

1. Short or spaced out teeth: Composites are able to reshape any deformed teeth or add length to a tooth. 
2. Cracked or chipped teeth: It can fill in any chips or worn down teeth to appear healthy yet again. 
3. Smile Makeover: It does not require for healthy tooth structure to be removed unlike a veneer

Preventive dentistry: The molars in the back have deep groves on the sides that food particles can get trapped in causing infection. The composite can be filled in those areas as a preventative.

Advantages of Composites:

1. The shade of the composite filling is well suited to match the color of your existing teeth.
2. They can chemically bond to your tooth structure, rendering additional support.
3. Composite fillings are also used to mend broken or cracked teeth.
4. With composite filling, not much of your tooth structure needs to be taken off as compared to amalgam fillings.

Precautions with Tooth coloured fillings 

1. Composite fillings wear faster as compared to silver fillings should be replaced within 3-7 years.
2. Need regular follow up care or maintenance as they are subject to microleakage. 

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