White Fillings | Steinbicker Family Dentistry • Mebane, NC

Visit one of our Mebane dentists at Steinbicker Family Dentistry if you think you might need a white filling. Most of the time, our dental office uses tooth-colored or white fillings.

These composite fillings are made of a resin and help strengthen the tooth compared to silver or amalgam fillings. They do so by bonding the tooth together. Tooth colored fillings are fairly common in dentistry. They are made of a material called composite. Our office currently uses Filtek Supreme composite by 3M, a top-rated composite tested to perform well to restore teeth.

How do we place white fillings?

If we determine that you have a cavity or need a broken restoration replaced, we remove the pit and existing filling. Then, dentists remove all tooth decay and etch the tooth with a weak acid. We use a bonding agent and light-cure it with an ultraviolet or UV light.

This bond allows the filling to stick to the tooth. Next, we place the restoration filling material with dental instruments. Then it is cured with a UV light.

Checking the occlusion ensures patients hit the filling correctly with opposing teeth. We also check the contacts between the restoration and the adjacent teeth with dental floss.

Replacing silver fillings

If we have to replace silver or amalgam fillings, we first remove all amalgam and decay. Silver fillings can serve a purpose in areas where moisture can interfere with composite bonding.

However, in general, white restorations are better since they help bond the tooth together. Plus, tooth colored fillings offer a better cosmetic result than silver fillings. Replacing silver fillings is only one of many cosmetic dental procedures our office performs.

Alternatives to white fillings include crowns or veneers. Veneers cover a tooth surface with a porcelain surface. Crowns cover teeth with substantial tooth structure loss.

Tooth bonding

Cosmetic dentistry also includes tooth bonding through the use of white fillings. Other forms of cosmetic dental care include orthodontics (i.e., Invisalign). These fillings can be used to bond composite, tooth colored, material to front teeth. We can reshape teeth with white fillings or provide a better tooth shade.

Dental implants and white fillings

It is essential to note that white fillings do not whiten when you use teeth whitening products. To make an appointment at Steinbicker Family Dentistry, contact one of our insurance coordinators today. If you are a new patient, we perform a complete exam before developing a treatment plan.

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Let us help you smile

Contact us today! We speak Spanish (i.e., hablamos Espanol). Need more information about dental treatment? Visit our dental glossary page to learn about terms common in dental care.

Need an electric toothbrush? We can help. Just ask one of our receptionists for assistance for more information about the new Sonicare toothbrush (i.e., electric toothbrush).