Composite fillings are strong, attractive alternatives to traditional mercury amalgam. Their tooth-colored material provides a seamless, natural look, especially valued for teeth that show when you smile.

Many patients express concerns that their composite fillings may not be as strong as metal and that they might break. Fortunately, composite fillings are tough enough to withstand a strong bite force and can last several years with proper maintenance.

How Composite Fillings Work

Composite fillings incorporate tooth-colored powdered glass, silica, quartz, or ceramic materials in a liquid resin base. The dentist adjusts the shade of the filling to match your tooth precisely.

Receiving a composite filling is a comfortable process. To prepare for a filling, your dentist first numbs the area around your tooth with a local anesthetic. Then, they carefully remove any damaged or decayed tooth material using a dental drill. The dentist applies a substance that promotes a strong bond between the tooth and the filling.

Your dentist fills the prepared cavity with resin one thin layer at a time and then cures the resin with UV light. After completing the filling, the dentist shapes and polishes it to fit perfectly with your bite.

Advantages of Composite Fillings

Attractive

Composite fillings blend into the natural tooth surface and produce a healthy-looking smile. They are especially valuable in the front teeth and those that show when you smile.

No Harsh Chemicals

Placing metal amalgam fillings may involve exposure to mercury vapor and other harsh chemicals. Composite materials are safer for both dentists and patients.

Strengthen Teeth

While a large metal filling may weaken your tooth and make breakage more likely, a composite filling strengthens a tooth.

Repairable

If a metal filling chips or breaks, the entire filling needs replacement. However, if you chip or crack a composite filling, the dentist can easily repair the existing material.

Frequently Asked Questions About Composite Fillings

How long do composite fillings last?

Composite fillings last approximately five to seven years, but many patients find the material lasts even longer with proper care.

What causes composite fillings to break?

Composite fillings can stand up to tough wear, but consider avoiding the following practices to preserve them:

• Chewing pens, ice, or fingernails
• Using teeth as tools to open packages, etc.
• Avoid clenching or grinding your teeth. If you believe you clench or grind your teeth at any time, ask your dentist whether a custom night guard may be appropriate.

Even if a composite filling breaks, repairing it is easier and faster than receiving a new metal filling.

Call Queens Crown Dental

Composite fillings can brighten and revive your smile while giving you years of high-performance wear. If you believe you have tooth decay or need a replacement filling, please don't wait to call our Honolulu, HI, office at 808-526-2800.

A dental crown restores a broken, decayed, or discolored tooth. It can also protect and restore a tooth that has undergone a root canal. It has a natural appearance and provides excellent chewing ability.

In Honolulu, HI, a dental crown costs approximately $900 to $1,300, depending on its size and position in the mouth.

Dental Crown Materials

Ceramic

Ceramic or porcelain crowns are perhaps the most attractive option, especially for teeth that show when you smile. Porcelain makes an excellent replacement for natural tooth material.

Base Metal Alloy

Patients sometimes opt for a base metal alloy crown due to their durability. A dentist can place a base metal alloy crown on a tooth with a less visible surface.

Porcelain Fused to Metal Alloy

Porcelain fused to metal crowns have a useful blend of features. They are attractive like ceramic crowns but provide durable wear like metal crowns.

Gold Alloy

Gold alloy crowns are the most expensive but also the most durable. People who grind their teeth may want to look into gold crowns.

Installing a Dental Crown

Getting a new crown is a simple, routine procedure. First, the dentist takes an impression to model your teeth and bite to ensure an attractive replacement. The dentist preps the tooth by removing broken and decayed areas.

After You Receive Your Crown

Call your dentist for a minor adjustment if the fit or your bite seems wrong. It should feel like a natural tooth after you become accustomed to the crown. 

Keeping Your Crown Strong

Chew on both sides of your mouth to promote even tooth and crown wear. Avoid extremely sticky or chewy foods like caramels and taffy to prevent pulling your crown off. If your crown falls out, save it and bring it to the office so the dentist can cement it back into place.

If you often grind or clench your teeth, ask your dentist about a custom-made night guard to protect your natural teeth and crowns.

Does Dental Insurance Cover Crowns?

In many cases, dental insurance does cover part of the cost of crowns. Many policies offer 50 percent or 80 percent coverage, depending on the details of your insurance plan.

Frequently Asked Questions About Dental Crowns

Does a crown hurt more than a filling?

Getting a crown is a comfortable procedure thanks to local anesthetic. Most patients report that getting a crown is more tolerable than getting a filling, though today, both procedures are not painful.

Do you need a crown after a root canal?

Dentists usually use crowns to protect teeth after root canals, though sometimes they use large fillings. Crowns can save natural teeth and protect the root system.

Call Queens Crown Dental

If you need a dental crown, visit an expert restorative dentist. Call our Honolulu, HI, office at 808-526-2800 to learn more about dental crowns and schedule an appointment for a consultation.