Tooth-Colored Fillings = Composite Fillings

                                            

Tooth-colored fillings are the same as composite fillings. Composite is a blend of plastics and small glass particles that are used to do small and large fillings for front and back teeth. 

1.     Why people like tooth-colored fillings?

·       Good color match; very natural bonded to the front teeth, cannot tell that there is a filling done.

·       Bonds directly to the enamel

·       Strong, resist wear

·       Tooth-colored or composite filling can be completed in one dental visit

·       Composite fillings for chipped, fractured, discolored, decaying teeth

·       Less drilling is involved than with other types of fillings (amalgam/silver)

**Consult with Glendora cosmetic dentist, Dr. Anna Lee about which type of filling will function best for you.

2.     What to avoid with tooth-colored fillings?

·       Hard candy, ice cubes

·       Opening food packaging, chewing pen caps, biting fingernails

·       Stain inducing beverages: tobacco products (smoking), tea, and coffee, red wine, blueberries and others. Avoid these drinks and foods for the first 2 days after bonding procedure.

**practice good oral hygiene by brushing your teeth 2 times per day and flossing daily. Dr. Anna Lee recommends that you visit your dentist at least every 6 months. 

How long do they last?

·       Tooth-colored or composite fillings last more than 5 years.  With current advances in composite materials, many are holding up even longer.

·       Taking good care of the bonded teeth by having good oral hygiene, avoiding certain foods, drinks and habits would increase the chance of longer, lasting fillings in your mouth.

What is the procedure?

·       Local anesthesia: to numb the area around the tooth

·       Tooth decay removal: the dentist removes the decay with a drilling instrument and shapes the space to hold the composite filling

·       Etching: the dentist etches the tooth with an acid gel before placing the composite filling

·       Composite application: the dentist places the composite filling material into the space and hardens it with a bright light.  This makes the filling strong.

·       Polishing: after the composite filling has been placed and hardened, the dentist polishes the tooth and filling.

Are tooth-colored fillings covered by insurance?

·       Most insurance companies cover tooth colored fillings when done on the anterior (front) teeth

·       Some insurance companies pay the allowance for an amalgam if the tooth-colored fillings are done on the posterior (back) teeth. 

·       Call Dr. Anna Lee’s dental office, our office treatment coordinator will call for your dental benefits

**Dr. Anna Lee is a general & cosmetic dentist in Glendora, CA.  If you have any questions about tooth-colored fillings, please visit us at www.annaleeddds.com or call for a FREE consultation at 626-335-5114.

Reasons to Consider Cosmetic Dentistry in Glendora

                  

Patients admire the pictures of the beautiful, white teeth displayed on the wall of the treatment rooms.  Patients comment how they would like to have those beautiful teeth.  My respond to them is-this is cosmetic dentistry; you can have it and it will improve your smile and your appearance.  Some patients say they are too old to have cosmetic dentistry.   My response is no one is too old to have nice looking teeth with a beautiful smile.  Some of the reasons to consider cosmetic dentistry are to improve your appearance, to boost your confidence, to improve your oral health and hygiene and others.

Here are some of the reasons to consider cosmetic dentistry in Glendora:

1.     Improve appearance

·       A 65 year old patient complained of crooked, chipped and stained teeth.  She wanted to straighten her teeth but thought she was too old to wear braces.   Glendora Cosmetic Dentist,  Dr. Anna Lee educated the patient that she would be a good candidate for braces and cosmetic dentistry.  Patient was referred to the orthodontist for invisible braces (invisalign) and treatment was completed in 9 months.  Patient returned to Dr. Anna Lee’s dental office and had in-office full mouth teeth whitening and it was completed in 90 minutes.  Patient’s upper front teeth were restored with porcelain veneers and the treatment was completed in 2 weeks.  Patient was very happy with the results of the completed treatment.  The cosmetic dentistry has improved her appearance and she has a beautiful smile.

*note: each patient’s treatment is different and individualized, depending on the number of teeth being restored, the health of the gum tissues, and other factors.  The timeline of treatment completion can be varied.

·       A 90 year old patient said he never liked his yellow and dingy looking teeth.  The incisal edges of his upper and lower anterior (front) teeth were worn.  Patient said he was ready for cosmetic dentistry to improve his appearance and smile.  Glendora Cosmetic Dentist, Dr. Anna Lee restored his anterior teeth with ceramic crowns. The treatment was completed in 2 weeks.  Patient was very happy with the color/shade of the ceramic crowns.  Patient said the cosmetic dentistry was the best thing he did for himself.  His friends tell him that he has an attractive smile and he looks at least 15 years younger than his age.  He is a happy man!

*note: each patient’s treatment is different and individualized, depending on the number of teeth being restored, the health of the gum tissues, and other factors.   The timeline of treatment completion can be varied.

2.     

Boost Confidence

·       A 16 year old patient did not like her smile because the diastemas (gaps) between the front teeth.  Patient wanted cosmetic dentistry to close the gaps.   Glendora Cosmetic Dentist, Dr. Anna Lee restored and closed the gaps of the front teeth with bonding/composite (white filling).  The treatment was completed in one office visit (about 60 minutes).  Patient was very happy with the result.  Patient smiles with confidence!  

*note: each patient’s treatment is different and individualized, depending on the size of the diastemas, number of teeth involved and other factors.  The treatment is usually completed in one office visit.

·       A patient shared that he had been self-conscious of his smile because of the grayish stain (tetracycline stain) of his teeth.  Glendora Cosmetic dentist, Dr. Anna Lee discussed the different options of cosmetic dentistry.  Patient had upper anterior teeth restored with porcelain veneers.  The treatment was completed in 2 weeks.  The result was fantastic and changed his appearance and smile. He smiles with confidence!  He said he can’t wait to have porcelain veneers for the lower front teeth.

*note: each patient’s treatment is different and individualized; depending on the color (dark stain) of the tooth, the health of the gum tissues and other factors.   The timeline of treatment completion can be varied.

3.     Improve Oral Health and Hygiene

·       Straight teeth are easier to care for and clean

·       Brush & floss the teeth more effectively with straightened teeth, prevent tooth decay, prevent periodontal disease

·       Clean, straight and white teeth are signs of good oral health

4.     Teeth will be stronger & functional

·       Cosmetic dentistry improves the looks of the teeth, but they also become stronger after they are restored.  A tooth that is chipping or breaking can be restored with bonding/composite or a porcelain veneer.  So, the restored tooth looks good and is functional.

If there is something about your teeth or smile you want to change, Dr. Anna Lee and her staff are here to help you.         Glendora Cosmetic Dentist, Dr. Anna Lee can assess your teeth and smile and recommend different treatment options.  Call for a free smile assessment at drannalee1@gmail.com or 626-335-5114.                            

What is the process of getting porcelain veneers?

It is usually a 2 visit treatment procedure.

First visit: 

·      Enamel reduction (facial surface of the tooth) is about .5 to .7 mm.  

·      The amount of tooth reduction is so small that some patients do not need anesthetics (temporary veneers placed after).

·      Take a mold (dental impression) of the prepared teeth.  Send the dental impression to the laboratory for fabrication of the porcelain veneers.

·      Prepared teeth may experience some sensitivity to hot and cold.

·       Temporary veneers may be needed to protect the underlying dentin and prevent sensitivity.  The dentist determines whether temporary veneers are necessary based on the amount of enamel removed.

·      It takes about 1-2 weeks for patients to receive their porcelain veneers.

Second visit: 

·      Cementing/bonding of porcelain veneers to the teeth.   The color of cement is specifically chosen to coordinate with the porcelain veneers and match the natural color of a patient's teeth.  After applying a gentle force to set the porcelain veneers in place, the dentist uses a curing light to harden the cement.

·      Local anesthetics may be needed.

Patient is scheduled a follow-up visit to check the porcelain veneers.

*Dr. Anna Lee is a cosmetic dentist in Glendora, CA.  If you have any questions about porcelain veneers, please visit us at www.annaleedds.com or call for a FREE consultation at 626-335-5114.