When treating a cavity, the dentist will remove the decayed portion of your tooth and fill it with another material that resembles tooth color and hardens into a strong lasting restoration. This procedure is called a filling.
A composite filling is also known as a tooth colored filling, since the material used in the filling can be closely matched to the color of your teeth. Composite fillings are great for restoring back teeth and also for fillings or bonding on the front teeth because of their great esthetics.
When can a composite filling be used for?
- Decayed tooth (i.e. cavity)
- Chipped or broken teeth
- Decreasing the gap between teeth
- Bonding on front teeth to improve the appearance
How its done
After the dentist numbs the area where the filling is to be placed, he will remove any decayed portions. A substance is then applied to help open up the pores of your teeth for a stronger bond, and hardened and cured with a special light. Once this is complete, the filling is applied in thin layers to slowly form the complete filling. After the composite has hardened, the filling will be smoothened and polished to be comfortable and fit your bite.