How Natural Do Tooth Colored Fillings Look?

Each year, increasing numbers of dentists offer advanced tooth colored fillings in place of older metallic options. Still, many patients worry and wonder whether these matching fillings truly look more natural than other filling types. The answer is yes, provided they are initially done correctly and properly taken care of afterward.

How closely do tooth colored fillings match teeth?

To see how less noticeable these enamel-colored fillings are, one needs to compare them both to other fillings and the original teeth.

In comparison to other filling types

When compared to amalgam and gold fillings, dentition color-matching fillings, such as composite resin or glass ionomer fillings, are significantly less apparent. Amalgam and gold fillings are both metal fillings and often maintain the common metallic property of shininess. They regularly shine or catch and reflect light, especially when patients open their mouths or give toothy grins, which immediately attract attention. Amalgam fillings are also bright or dark silver or grey, and gold fillings are bright or dark gold, colors that greatly stand out against the generally white pigment of natural teeth. In contrast, even tooth colored fillings that do not exactly match the color of natural teeth are less noticeable than silver and gold ones.

In comparison to your teeth

One advantageous property of tooth colored fillings is that dentists can create them to match the color of your teeth, making them virtually indistinguishable. Many patients believe that when dentists say tooth-colored, they mean white. However, if they were just white or off-white, they would still look different from the teeth of a majority of people.

One main reason for composite and glass ionomer fillings is the ability to blend more naturally into patients' smiles. If these fillings were simply white-colored, they would not be capable of this. Therefore, dentists created these fillings to be mixable and matchable to the color of your teeth while you sit in the dental chair during your procedure.

Dentists can even change the color for each individual filling that they place, based upon where exactly they place each one. Many people do not have consistent dentition coloration, so the ability to change the color of every single filling allows dentists to maintain the most natural appearance possible for every patient.

Composite and glass ionomer fillings are also quite resistant to staining; yet, they still can become tainted. To avoid staining your fillings and causing them to stand out from the surrounding dentition, you must follow a good oral hygiene regimen and attend regular checkups and cleanings with your dentist. You also may want to avoid certain foods and beverages known to cause discoloration or make sure to brush, floss and rinse directly after consuming them.