Composite Fillings Are So 21st Century

Composite fillings are a mixture of glass or quartz filler in a resin medium that produces a tooth-colored filling. Composite fillings provide good durability and resistance to fracture in small-to-mid size restorations that need to withstand moderate chewing pressure. Less tooth structure is removed when the dentist prepares the tooth, as the material is bonded into the cavity space. The technique allows the dentist to make a more conservative repair to the tooth.

It generally takes longer to place a composite filling than what is required for an amalgam filling. Composite fillings also require a cavity that can be kept clean and dry during the filling process. We use a special caries (decay) marking dye before placing any composite filling in our office to avoid inadvertently sealing over decay.