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Tooth Colored Fillings
Up until the 1960's, the only kind of fillings
available to combat cavities were amalgam (silver) or gold restorations.
These metal fillings were effective, but very conspicuous. Nowadays,
fillings are tooth-colored. They are strong, durable, and attractive. Last
year, in 1999, the American Dental Association gave white fillings its
seal of approval and now many insurance plans cover their use.
Tooth Bonding.
Tooth bonding is the term used when a dentist "bonds" a
tooth-colored resin to your tooth in order to change its shape or color,
increase its size or repair a defect. Bonding is an alternative to veneers that can be used to restore teeth that are
discolored, chipped, cracked, or misarranged.
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Example
1: bonding is used to fix a chipped tooth!
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to enlarge! |
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before |
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after |
We prepare the tooth for bonding by lightly etching the surface, and coating the tooth with a bonding liquid. Once the
liquid has set, a plastic resin is applied and sculpted into the desired shape. When the resin has set, it is trimmed
and polished to a natural appearance.
Considerations
Bonding can significantly improve the appearance of a tooth and can usually be done in a single office visit. Because the plastic
is not as strong as tooth enamel, it can be chipped, or broken, and is more likely to pick up stains than natural teeth. Bonding
usually lasts for three to five years before needing repair.
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