Advances in biomaterial technology have made tooth colored fillings
enter an era of absolute confidence in their physical properties
as an improved alternative to metal amalgam fillings. They
have become the standard of care.
There are a number of types of tooth-colored fillings. These
are,
Composite Fillings
The material is a composite quartz resin (durable plastic)
containing a light-sensitive activating agent. It is bonded
into place and hardened with light. Our clinic is equipped
with intensified 'arc light' technology which hardens the
filling in 10 seconds, compared to the 2-3 minutes needed
using conventional quartz halogen light. These are the most
commonly used type of 'white' fillings. They are also used
in cosmetic dentistry to patch up chips or as Composite Veneers,
often referred to as 'Bonding'. These materials come in a
variety of tooth shades to match your own tooth color.
Glass Ionomer Fillings
These fillings do not come in many shades and are therefore
not suitable for front teeth. They are not as strong as composite
fillings and are therefore limited in their use to small
cavities or parts of the tooth which are non stress-bearing.
They have a major advantage of containing 'Fluoride' which
helps prevent decay and are mostly used in back teeth.
Porcelain, Artglass, Belleglass, or Composite Inlays
Similar in process to Porcelain Veneers, inlays require 2 appointments
as they are fabricated in a dental laboratory. These procedures
were common to overcome some of the limitations of the older
generation composite materials in large cavities. Inlays
have superior strength and may be indicated as an alternative
to a Crown in very large cavities or fractured back teeth. | 
