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Composite Fillings |
Most patients refer to
composite restorations as “tooth colored fillings”.
They have been around for decades and are
indispensable when it comes to esthetically fixing
small defects in the front teeth. Composite is not
porcelain even though it is tooth colored like
porcelain. It’s part acrylic, so it is closer to
plastic then to porcelain and has quite different
physical properties. Composite fillings are bonded
to teeth and do not contain mercury.
How we use composite: We use composite for
small and average restorations in the front of the
mouth and for many small restorations in the back of
the mouth. We like that composite fillings are
bonded, unlike amalgam fillings. We also like the
esthetics that can be achieved with the various
composites.
What we don’t like about composite:
It’s longevity. Inherent mechanical properties of
composite dictate that the larger the filling, the
sooner it will begin to leak and eventually fail. We
haven’t seen many of our large composite fillings on
the back teeth last more than seven to ten years,
and sometimes they fail long before then.
What we suggest for the back teeth
We believe, in general, it is the best way to
restore a tooth is via a CEREC
restoration. CEREC restorations have as good or
better aesthetics than composite fillings and wear
patterns similar to amalgam. Sometimes a defect is
too small for a CEREC, if that is the case we
generally recommend a composite restoration.
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