Tooth-Colored Fillings For Decayed, Fractured, and Dysmorphic Teeth

Lifelike Restorations That Match Your Smile Perfectly

Even if you do your best to take good care of your teeth, cavities, traumas, or malformations happen. And at Max Dental Studio, Dr. Mauro Nunes is here to help with tooth-colored composite fillings in Durham, NC. With a tooth-colored filling from our office, you can eliminate pain and sensitivity, restore your tooth, and prevent further tooth decay and other complications like tooth infections.

What Are Tooth-Colored Fillings?

Also called “composite fillings” or “composite resin fillings,” tooth-colored fillings are an alternative to old-fashioned dental fillings made of metal amalgam and ceramic veneers. Rather than using a mixture of different metals, tooth-colored fillings use a mixture of tooth-colored dental resin and crushed, extremely fine, microscopically glass particles. This is called “composite.”

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Dental composite is applied to your tooth while it’s still quite soft, which means that it can be easily molded and shaped to restore the shape and size of your tooth. But once Dr. Nunes activates the resin with a blue visible light, the composite hardens into a very strong, durable, and lifelike material in seconds.

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Then, with just a little bit of trimming, final adjustments, and polishing, Dr. Nunes can completely restore your tooth. Your new tooth will look completely natural and lifelike, which makes tooth-colored fillings a great option if you’re concerned with the aesthetics of your smile.

Understanding The Benefits Of Tooth-Colored Fillings

At Max Dental Studio, we specialize in restoring decayed teeth with tooth-colored fillings in Durham, NC. Here are just a few benefits of choosing to get a composite filling instead of a metal filling.

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• Blends in perfectly with your teeth – During your visit, Dr. Nunes will make sure he picks a shade of dental composite that fits in with your natural teeth perfectly. Once your tooth-colored filling is in place, it will look nearly indistinguishable from your natural enamel!
• Preserves more tooth structure – Compared to metal fillings, composite tooth-colored fillings usually require the removal of less tooth structure during the preparation phase. Dr. Nunes practices minimally invasive, conservative care, which means preserving your natural tooth is always his priority.
• Free of any toxic metals – While metal amalgam fillings are accepted as safe by the FDA and most dental organizations, they do still contain a small amount of mercury, which is a toxic metal to the environment. Many people are not comfortable with having mercury in their mouths, which makes tooth-colored fillings a great choice.

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• Less likely to cause sensitivity – Composite resin is not as conductive as metal. This means that resin fillings are less likely to cause tooth sensitivity compared to metal fillings, which easily transmit both heat and cold into your tooth. Additionally, composite resin behaves more like natural tooth structure when exposed to temperature changes—it expands and contracts at a similar rate, reducing the risk of cracks or fractures that can occur with metal fillings due to their higher thermal expansion.

Do Tooth-Colored Fillings Have Any Drawbacks?

While composite resin fillings are a great option for most patients, they do have some drawbacks compared to metal fillings.

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• Technique-Sensitive Procedure – Placing composite fillings requires strict control of moisture and a more detailed application process compared to metal fillings. The bonding process is sensitive to humidity and contamination, which means the tooth must remain dry throughout the procedure to ensure a strong, long-lasting bond. This makes composite placement more technique-dependent than traditional metal fillings.
  
  
• More expensive – Composite fillings usually cost more than metal fillings. The price difference is not very much, usually between $50 and $100. Still, if you’re budget-conscious, this is something you may want to keep in mind.
• Not suitable for very large  cavities – Crowns  are a better choice for restoring  severe, deep cavities, especially in the back teeth. In some cases, though, Dr. Nunes may recommend a dental crown instead.

Should I Have My Old Dental Fillings Replaced?

Whether you have some metal fillings or you just have some older composite fillings that may be nearing the end of their lifespan, you may be wondering if you should have your old dental fillings replaced. Is it a good idea to replace them to make sure that your smile stays healthy and cavity-free?

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The answer is “it depends.” In most cases, there’s no need to remove an old dental filling as long as it’s still in good shape, is protecting your tooth, and the remaining tooth has not cracks or damage. Whether it’s a metal or a composite filling, Dr. Nunes will recommend leaving your old dental work in place if it’s in good shape.

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However, if your old filling and/ or the tooth structure has started to fail, it’s definitely necessary to have it replaced with a new one. This is one of the reasons why it’s so important to see a dentist like Dr. Nunes every six months for a checkup.

During your teeth cleaning and oral exam, Dr. Nunes won’t just check on the health and condition of your natural teeth. He will also look at your fillings, crowns, and any other dental work that you might have, and make sure everything’s in good shape. If he notices any issues with your old dental fillings or the remaining tooth around them, he’ll tell you right away so that you can schedule a follow-up and get a new filling.

Composite Filling Cost And Insurance Considerations

Wondering how much composite fillings cost? The answer is “it depends.” Every patient, every tooth, and every dentist is different. Usually, though, you can expect to pay between $150 and $300 for a small to medium-sized composite filling in North Carolina. 

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If you’re on a tight budget and need dental fillings in Durham, NC, we’ve got some good news. Dental fillings are almost always covered by dental insurance plans. Most insurers will cover 80% of the cost of any medically necessary filling.

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At Max Dental Studio, we also offer payment plans for extensive treatments of qualifying patients. With a payment plan, you can split the cost of your treatment into affordable monthly payments with a reasonable interest rate. Ask about your financing options during your visit with Dr. Nunes and our team!

Worried About Cavities or the appearance of your smile? Book A Visit With Max Dental Studio!

If you want an alternative to improve your smile or you think you might have a cavity, an old, worn-out filling that needs to be replaced with a new composite filling in Durham, NC, Dr. Mauro Nunes and our team are here to help. At Max Dental Studio, we practice conservative dentistry. 

That means we focus on preserving your tooth as much as possible, and we’ll never recommend unnecessary or overly invasive dental treatments. You can trust us to deliver top-notch care in Durham, NC. Give us a call at (919) 383-7020 or book your first visit online to get started.