Composite resin is a restorative dental material that is used almost exclusively for all dental fillings.
One of the esthetic advantages of their material is the ability to colour match the filling to the patient’s enamel, as it comes in many different colours (shades). Composite also has the ability to adhere to the tooth surface through a process called bonding, which in some situations helps strengthen or reinforce the tooth.
The ability of the material to bond makes the material work really well in cosmetic situations, where it is being used on front teeth- as you can repair small chips or enhance the colour or shape of the teeth. Composite can also be polished to a very high lustre making the tooth very natural and shiny.
Frequently Asked Questions
Although silver (amalgam) fillings are still sometimes used, the composite resin filling materials of today are advantageous in their colour matching ability and the fact that the material bonds (sticks) to your tooth enamel.
Dental fillings (restorations) are required to restore your teeth back to health when your tooth gets a cavity. The cavity is first removed by the dentist, and then filling material is put back into that little space to restore the ability to chew on that tooth without pain. If left alone without treatment, a cavity could get larger and cause the person a toothache.
A person normally has to wait a few hours after their filling appointment to eat in order to allow the local anesthetic freezing to wear off. Once normal feeling is regained in the mouth, a person can resume normal eating.