Tooth Colored Fillings
During your examination Dr. Denison may identify teeth that are damaged or have decay and will require repair. Dr. Denison uses aesthetic tooth colored materials for that purpose.
Composite Resin Fillings
Composite Resin fillings are made from glass or quartz filler in a tooth-colored resin. They typically are hardened in the mouth with the use of a broad spectrum light called a curing light. They blend easily with the natural teeth and require the removal of less tooth structure than amalgam fillings. They are well suited to repair small cavities, fractures and cover minor stains or defects in teeth. They have limited success with large fillings due to their tendency to shrink slightly during curing and flex microscopically with chewing forces. Teeth with larger and/or deeper composites can sometimes exhibit sensitivity. The cost is moderate. Composite fillings require a cavity that can be kept clean and dry during filling and they are subject to stain and discoloration over time.
Porcelain Fillings
Porcelain fillings are made from an all-ceramic material. Fillings using porcelain are called inlays or onlays. They are made outside of the mouth and are then bonded into the teeth. They are effective for larger cavities because porcelain that is bonded within a tooth has very strong strength characteristics. They have a low incidence of sensitivity because porcelain is an insulator, and does not flex like composite, and they can be used as a conservative alternative to crowns. The strength of this type of restoration depends on an adequate thickness of porcelain and the ability to be bonded to the underlying tooth. They are highly resistant to wear and have a longer life expectancy than composite resins. The cost for ceramic fillings is initially high, but the benefit of added longevity and their use as a conservative alternative to crowns should be considered.
Inlays/Onlays
Dr. Denison provides inlays and onlays as a natural-looking alternative to metal fillings. Inlays and onlays are indirect restorative treatments that in the past would require at least two visits to the dentist, since they were made in a dental laboratory. But today Dr Denison can make these wonderful restorations in one visit using a CAD/CAM computer system. Dr Denison takes a digital picture of the tooth and designs the restoration chairside. The instrument then cuts the filling out from a block of porcelain in just a few minutes. The material used in inlays and onlays is also more durable than that used in fillings. Inlays fit within the cusps and crevices of the chewing surface of the teeth, while onlays cover and add shape to the entire chewing surface of the teeth.
