Cosmetic Dentistry

Tooth Coloured Fillings

Most people have amalgam (silver) fillings in their mouth. Nowadays fillings can be more natural looking, whilst still doing the job that it’s designed to do. Many people don’t want silver fillings that show when they laugh or smile because they are more conscious about the way they look.

It is usually best to change fillings only when your dentist recommends that an old filling needs replacing.
When this happens you can ask to have it replaced with a tooth-coloured filling. Some dentists prefer not to put Tooth Coloured Fillings in back teeth as they are not always successful.
One way around this would be to use crowns or inlays.
However, this can mean removing more of the tooth and can be more expensive.

Composite Bonding

This is the application of a tooth-coloured composite resin (plastic) to repair a fractured, chipped, decayed or discoloured tooth. Unlike veneers, which are manufactured in a laboratory and require a customised mould to achieve a proper fit, bonding can be done in a single visit. The procedure is called bonding because the material bonds to the tooth.

The following are examples of where Composite bonding can be used:-
To fill in and repair chipped teeth.
To even out jagged or rough edges.
To close gaps between the teeth.
To reshape teeth.

Veneers

A veneer is a thin layer of porcelain (roughly 0.5 -1.0mm in thickness) which is custom made to fit over the front surface of a tooth, like a false fingernail would fit over a nail. Sometimes a natural colour ‘composite’ material is used instead of porcelain.
Veneers are used to improve the colour, shape and alignment of your teeth. A precise shade of porcelain can be chosen to give the right colour to improve a single discoloured tooth or to lighten the front teeth. A veneer can make a chipped tooth look perfect again.
The porcelain covers the whole of the front of the tooth with a thicker section, which replaces the broken part. Veneers can also be used to close small gaps, when orthodontics (braces) are not suitable. If one tooth is slightly out of position, a veneer can sometimes be fitted to bring it into line with the others.