Improve your smile today – call to schedule a consultation!

Composite Fillings

Cavities are one of the most frequent dental issues we see here at Hurley Family Dentistry. While a good home care routine and regular exams and cleanings go a long way toward reducing the number of cavities a person is likely to experience, we have yet to eliminate them entirely. In fact, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), every person in the U.S. is likely to experience a cavity at some point in their lifetime.

We don’t think that just because you have had a cavity your smile should be forever marred. In the past, the only options available for treating cavities were silver fillings. Although these fillings were effective, they left easily identifiable dark marks on the teeth.

Today, we are able to fill cavities using tooth-colored restorations. These fillings are made of a composite material that can be blended to perfectly match the natural shade of your tooth. This means that once the filling is placed, even you will have a hard time spotting it.

Advantages of Tooth-Colored Composite Fillings

The most obvious advantage of tooth-colored fillings is, of course, the fact that they match your enamel. The benefits don’t end here, however.

Unlike silver (amalgam) fillings, composite fillings bond with your tooth structure. Metal fillings require us to create an “anchor” to mechanically hold the filling in place. Composite fillings are placed in layers and cured for a tight bond. What does this mean for you? A smaller prep and less drilling!

We can even use tooth-colored composite to make small cosmetic improvements to your teeth. This procedure is known as “bonding” and allows us to repair small chips and conceal other imperfections.

What to Expect at Your Filling Appointment

Before we begin your filling, we’ll make sure that you are comfortable and relaxed. We’ll start by placing a topical numbing gel on your gums. After a few minutes, we’ll remove the gel and administer your anesthetic to keep you comfortable throughout the procedure.

Once Dr. Charles or Dr. Emily has confirmed that you are comfortable, he or she will start carefully removing the decayed portion of your tooth. When this is complete, your tooth will be isolated and conditioned for the filling.

At this point, the filling material will be placed in the prepared spot and cured using a special type of blue light. This sets up the filling almost instantly.

When the filling is set, Dr. Charles or Dr. Emily will shape and polish it to make sure that it blends in well with your enamel and that your bite is comfortable.

Is It Time for a Check-Up?

Cavities are usually painless for a long time. Catching them early, when they are small, makes treatment simpler.

If you’re due for an examination, call our Chesterfield dental office today to schedule your next appointment.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are my silver fillings bad for my health?

The idea that silver fillings contain mercury and are bad for your health has been a hot topic in the media and on the Internet. While it is true that silver fillings do contain mercury, the form of mercury that is in silver fillings is not a hazard to your health. Repeated testing by the CDC and the U.S. Department of Public Health has shown silver fillings to be safe, and no ill effects have been linked to the mercury in silver fillings.

Drs. Charles and Emily Hurley do not recommend removing a silver filling unless there is a true need such as decay or a crack in the filling. Silver fillings can be replaced with a tooth-colored filling upon a patient’s request, but you should be aware that most insurances will not cover the procedure due to it being considered cosmetic.

At our practice, we use tooth-colored composite fillings whenever possible. These fillings blend in beautifully with your enamel to the point where it is highly unlikely that even you would be able to spot the filling in your tooth! Tooth-colored fillings also require less removal of healthy tooth structure since they bond directly to the tooth and do not need us to create an "anchor" to mechanically hold the filling in place.

If you have any concerns about your fillings, please call our practice for an evaluation.

Why does my child need to have a filling on their baby tooth?

Even though your child will eventually lose these baby teeth, it is important to keep baby teeth healthy until the permanent teeth are ready to come in.

If we prematurely lose our baby teeth, it can delay eruption of our permanent teeth. Our baby teeth act as a guide for the adult teeth to properly erupt. Without our baby teeth, it is more likely that we will have crowding and misaligned teeth. To correct crowding or misaligned teeth, more expensive treatment, like orthodontics, will be required.

Even though we have the skills to treat many dental problems and excellent relationships with local orthodontists and other specialists, we would prefer to prevent problems from developing in the first place – a sentiment we are sure you share!

Fillings, or even crowns, on damaged baby teeth can prevent significant future treatment, which makes them worthwhile now.

If your child is complaining of a toothache or has had an accident that resulted in damage to a tooth (even if damage is only suspected!), please call our office to schedule an evaluation with one of our friendly, gentle dentists. Drs. Charles and Emily Hurley have experience treating children, and we take extra steps to make sure their experiences in our office are comfortable and even fun!

Meet Our Doctor:

Dr. Charles Hurley

Dr. Charles Hurley attended DeSmet Jesuit High School, and then continued his Jesuit education at Creighton University, where he graduated in three and a half years with a Bachelor of Science in Biology. He continued on at Creighton to earn his Doctorate of Dental Surgery (DDS), graduating in 2014.

Dr. Hurley was drawn to the field of dentistry because it afforded him an excellent opportunity to serve his community. He is committed to providing patients with the highest level of dental care and takes the time to stay current with the ...