Restorative Dentistry
Tooth-Colored Dental Fillings in Los Angeles
Metal-free repairs that disappear into the tooth.
A filling should do two jobs at once — hold up under years of chewing, and be invisible when you laugh. Tooth-colored fillings blend seamlessly with your natural teeth, and at Smile LA Downtown Modern Dentistry they are what we place as standard.
The material
Why tooth-colored, not silver
Our fillings use advanced white filling materials that give strength and a natural appearance together. The case for them over silver amalgam is not only that they are invisible, though that is what most people notice first. A composite filling bonds directly to the tooth, so the cavity can be filled much as it is found; amalgam holds by mechanical grip instead, which means healthy structure often has to be cut away to make a shape that will retain it. Composite also expands and contracts at close to the rate the tooth does, so the joint between filling and tooth is under less stress every time you eat or drink something hot. Against silver amalgam it wins on four counts.
- Aesthetics They blend with your natural teeth, without the noticeable dark spots silver fillings leave behind.
- Preservation of tooth structure Silver fillings often require healthy tooth material to be cut away to hold them. A tooth-colored filling bonds directly to the tooth, so more of your own structure stays.
- Durability Composite expands and contracts like a natural tooth, which reduces the risk of cracks and fractures.
- Biocompatibility Less likely to cause an allergic reaction, and better for your health overall.
Larger damage
For larger damage: inlays and onlays
Where a cavity is too big for a straightforward filling, an inlay or onlay restores the tooth instead — a better result than stretching a conventional filling to cover it.
- Inlays For damage confined to the indented portion of the tooth’s top surface.
- Onlays For more extensive damage, covering a larger area of the tooth.
We make high-quality ceramic inlays and onlays that match the color and translucence of your natural teeth. Two things follow from doing it here rather than sending it out.
- One-visit service Traditionally inlays and onlays mean several visits and a temporary in between. With our technology we can often finish in a single appointment.
- Precision and quality A fit and appearance that closely mimics the natural brilliance of your teeth.
Replacing old amalgam fillings
If you have outdated silver amalgam fillings, we remove them safely and replace them with modern tooth-colored alternatives. Specialized equipment and procedures let us contain and eliminate the toxic vapours and mercury involved. Composite is more compatible with your body, which is the point of the exercise.
The short answer
A tooth-colored filling is a repair for a decayed or damaged tooth made from a composite material that bonds directly to the tooth and matches the surrounding teeth. The damaged part of the tooth is cleaned out and the composite is bonded into the space, so less healthy structure has to be cut away than for a silver amalgam filling, which holds by mechanical grip. Where damage is too large for a straightforward filling, a ceramic inlay or onlay restores the tooth instead.
Dental Fillings FAQ
- Will the filling show when I smile?
- No — tooth-colored fillings blend seamlessly with your natural teeth. They avoid the noticeable dark spots that silver fillings leave behind, which is what most people notice first. That appearance is one of the main reasons they are placed as standard instead of silver amalgam.
- Is a composite filling as strong as a silver one?
- The white filling materials used are chosen for strength as well as a natural appearance. Composite expands and contracts at close to the rate the tooth does, which reduces the risk of cracks and fractures. That also means the joint between filling and tooth is under less stress each time you eat or drink something hot.
- What is the difference between an inlay and an onlay?
- An inlay restores damage confined to the indented portion of the tooth’s top surface, while an onlay covers a larger area for more extensive damage. Both are used where a cavity is too big for a straightforward filling, giving a better result than stretching a conventional filling to cover it. They are made from high-quality ceramic that matches the color and translucence of your natural teeth.
- Do inlays and onlays take more than one appointment?
- Often not — with the technology in this office, inlays and onlays can often be finished in a single appointment. Traditionally they have meant several visits, with a temporary worn in between. Making them in-house rather than sending them out is what allows the shorter timeline, along with a precise fit and appearance.
- Can you take out my old silver fillings?
- Yes — outdated silver amalgam fillings can be removed safely and replaced with modern tooth-colored alternatives. Specialized equipment and procedures are used to contain and eliminate the toxic vapors and mercury involved. Composite is more compatible with your body, which is the point of the exercise.
- Why do fillings preserve more of the tooth?
- Because a composite filling bonds directly to the tooth, the cavity can be filled much as it is found. A silver amalgam filling holds by mechanical grip instead, which often means cutting away healthy tooth material to make a shape that will retain it. The result is that more of your own tooth structure stays with a tooth-colored filling.
