Do dark metal fillings, gaps in your smile, or cracks and chips in your teeth detract from your confidence? Cosmetic fillings offer a beautiful alternative that blends seamlessly with your natural teeth while providing durable protection against decay. Unlike traditional amalgam fillings that create noticeable silver or black spots in your smile, tooth-colored composite fillings are virtually invisible, restoring the function and appearance of damaged teeth without the obvious shiny finish.
At Port City Family & Cosmetic Dentistry, we want you to feel confident in your smile’s appearance and health. That’s why we offer state-of-the-art cosmetic filling solutions that prioritize both aesthetics and durability. Our comprehensive, patient-focused approach combines advanced dental materials with personalized care to ensure your restored teeth look natural and feel comfortable for years to come.
What Are Cosmetic Fillings?
While fillings are often used to fill cavities and restore tooth strength and function, you can also get them for cosmetic reasons. These modern dental restorations are made from a mixture of plastic resin and finely ground glass particles, which we precisely match to your natural tooth color, creating virtually undetectable results.
Unlike traditional amalgam fillings, which contain metals, including mercury, cosmetic fillings contain no metal components. This makes them more aesthetically pleasing and eliminates the concern about metal in the mouth. The composite resin bonds directly to your tooth structure to conceal a wide range of problems, including cracks, chips, gaps, staining, and misshapenness, and transform your smile in one appointment.
What Concerns Can Cosmetic Fillings Address?
Cosmetic fillings are a versatile solution that can work well in many situations. However, we understand every patient is different, so we closely assess your oral health and smile concerns to determine if they’re the right treatment for you. Generally, we may recommend cosmetic fillings to address the following:
New Cavities
Composite resin fillings are often the ideal choice for new areas of decay, especially in visible parts of your smile. Their ability to match your natural tooth color makes them perfect for front teeth and any area visible when you smile.
Replacing Old Metal Fillings
If you have old, dark amalgam fillings, you may want to replace them with more attractive composite alternatives. This can dramatically improve smile aesthetics while providing all the protective benefits of modern filling materials.
Repairing Minor Damage
Beyond treating decay, composite materials can repair minor chips, cracks, or areas of wear on teeth. This versatility makes them an excellent option for addressing multiple cosmetic concerns with a single, conservative treatment.
Closing Small Gaps
In some cases, we can use composite materials to close minor spaces between teeth without the need for orthodontics or more extensive treatments like veneers. This technique, called dental bonding, uses the same tooth-colored materials as cosmetic fillings.
What Happens During a Cosmetic Filling Procedure?
While American dentists have used and relied on amalgam fillings for over 150 years, composite resin fillings have become more standard due to their natural appearance and simple process. Our caring team takes the time to listen to your smile goals and closely examine your teeth to ensure cosmetic fillings are right for you.
If you decide to use cosmetic fillings to enhance your smile, you can expect the following steps of the straightforward process:
Anesthesia: We use local anesthesia to ensure you feel no discomfort and stay relaxed during the procedure.
Remove damaged tissue: If you’re filling a cavity, we remove any damaged or decayed tissue and clean your tooth before applying the composite resin.
Resin application: We carefully select the shade of composite material that matches your natural tooth color and apply it in thin layers. This creates natural translucency and color variations to match your natural teeth.
Curing: A special light hardens each layer to ensure maximum durability.
Shaping and polishing: Finally, we build up the filling to the proper shape and carefully adjust and polish it to ensure it fits your bite perfectly and has a natural luster that mimics tooth enamel.
The entire process typically takes 30-60 minutes per tooth, and you’ll leave our office with a fully restored smile that looks and feels completely natural. With proper care, including brushing, flossing, and regular cleanings, your composite fillings can last 7-10 years or even longer.
Benefits of Getting Cosmetic Fillings at Port City Family & Cosmetic Dentistry
Whether you want to completely transform your smile or replace a few old metal fillings, finding an experienced, caring team you can trust is essential. At Port City Family & Cosmetic Dentistry, we proudly provide high-quality, personalized care tailored to your unique needs. With our cutting-edge technology and advanced techniques, you can take advantage of the following benefits of cosmetic fillings:
Blend seamlessly with your natural teeth
Less removal of healthy tooth structure, preserving more of your natural tooth
Directly bonded to tooth enamel, providing additional structural support
Insulate the teeth to reduce temperature sensitivity, often experienced with metal fillings
Allows you to eat normally right after your appointment
Easily repaired if damaged, unlike amalgam fillings, which typically require complete replacement
With cosmetic fillings, your brand-new smile is just around the corner. Don’t wait to boost your confidence and oral health with these modern alternatives that provide comparable durability with significantly improved aesthetics and functionality.
Reach Out to Port City Family & Cosmetic Dentistry to Revamp Your Smile With Cosmetic Fillings
At Port City Family & Cosmetic Dentistry, we’re committed to providing restorative solutions that feel good and look natural. Dr. Jillian Wolske brings valuable experience from her service in the United States Navy, where she enlisted as a Dental Technician, applying the precision and attention to detail from her military background to each restoration. We also proudly offer Spanish-speaking services to better serve our diverse community.
Ready to replace old metal fillings or address new areas of decay with beautiful, tooth-colored alternatives? Our friendly team is ready to help restore your smile’s health and appearance. Call us today at (910) 251-8174 or use our contact form to schedule your consultation.
📍 Location: 4700 New Centre Dr, Wilmington, NC 28405
📞 Call us today to schedule your appointment: 910-613-5635
Restore your smile with cosmetic fillings in Wilmington, NC—book your consultation today!
Frequently Asked Questions about Cosmetic Fillings in Wilmington, NC
Cosmetic fillings help protect teeth by sealing off areas where bacteria can enter, reducing the risk of further decay that can contribute to gum disease. When decay reaches the root surfaces or gaps between teeth, it can inflame gums and lead to infection. By restoring the tooth’s surface with tooth-colored fillings, cosmetic fillings preserve healthy tooth structure and minimize bacterial buildup, promoting a healthier smile and better gum health overall.
Bonding material, which is a composite resin, plays a key role in dental contouring and cosmetic fillings by adhering directly to the tooth’s surface. This material allows precise shaping and repair of minor chips, cracks, or gaps, helping to restore natural tooth contours without removing much healthy tooth structure. Because bonding material matches the tooth color, it creates a seamless appearance while providing structural support to prevent further decay or damage.
Glass ionomer fillings release fluoride, which can help protect teeth against further decay, especially near root surfaces where gum disease often develops. However, tooth-colored composite fillings offer superior aesthetics and are more durable for visible areas of the smile. Cosmetic fillings made from composite resin bond directly to the tooth’s surface, preserving more healthy tooth structure and blending better with natural teeth compared to glass ionomer fillings.
If decay or damage affects large portions of a tooth or extends deep below the gum line, cosmetic fillings alone may not be sufficient. Extensive dental work might be required to restore function and prevent further decay or gum disease. This can include crowns, root canals, or periodontal treatment, especially if the decay reaches root surfaces or if there are advanced signs of gum disease that cosmetic fillings can’t fully address.
A dental laboratory supports cosmetic fillings by creating precise molds or tools that help dentists shape and fit restorations accurately. While many cosmetic fillings are applied directly in the office, lab work may be involved in custom bonding materials or complementary restorations. The lab ensures the color match and fit are perfect, contributing to a natural look and the longevity of the filling, ultimately supporting a healthy smile and preventing further decay.