Composite Restorations

Once a tooth has a cavity, the decay will continue to spread unless the decayed area is removed and the tooth is properly sealed up and restored closely to its original shape. Leaving cavities untreated can lead to the need for more significant restorative procedures, such as onlays, crowns, root canals, or even loss of the tooth or teeth.



When teeth are lost, more invasive and costly procedures such as bridges, implants, or removable prosthetics may be required. Leaving missing teeth can also lead to reduced function, the appearance of missing teeth, and destabilized bite that can result in teeth shifting or tipping, which can, in turn, result in jaw pain or more areas of decay as it gets harder to clean appropriately around the teeth that remain. The more teeth that are lost, the more that is asked of the remaining teeth, which in turn tend to suffer more failures such as breakage or teeth becoming loose.

Also known as “white fillings” or “tooth-colored fillings”, these are bonded restorations that are created using methods applied directly in your mouth (as opposed to a crown or onlay, that is made indirectly outside of your mouth)

Composite fillings offer a number of benefits over the older style metal “amalgam” fillings:

• • • Amalgam fillings contain mercury, and while no studies have shown that these fillings are toxic to humans, it would be better to avoid heavy metals like mercury in our restorations.
    • Amalgam fillings replace missing tooth structures lost from decay but fail to adequately restore the integrity of the tooth.
    • The parts of the tooth that remain (usually the cusps) have been thinned by the decay and removal process, and they flex more under use even after placement of a metal filling. This results in more crack formation and, eventually, breakage of the teeth, which often results in the need for crowns, root canals, and sometimes tooth loss. Composite fillings bond to the tooth structure, restoring the tooth's structural integrity and leading to improved tooth longevity and less invasive treatments.
    • Composite fillings appear more natural since they mimic the surrounding tooth structure in color.
    • When done correctly, composite fillings have reduced temperature sensitivity compared to metal fillings since they more intimately seal the sensitive parts of the tooth.
    • Well-bonded composite restorations reduce a phenomenon called “microleakage.” Microleakage happens when composite restorations are not well-bonded and always happens around metal restorations. It is the main cause of restorative failure, recurring tooth decay, and pulpitis (which can lead to root canal treatment or tooth loss).