Fillings and White Fillings

In our practice we tailor your treatment to your needs. We restore teeth with several different materials - silver, composite (tooth colored white filling material) and porcelain. You can decide what material you want to restore your teeth with. At his East Brunswick New Jersey office, Dr. Grizzaffi will recommend which restorative material will be best for you. He will educate you, offering both the benefits and shortcomings of using silver, composite white filling and porcelain.

Many people still have silver fillings in their mouths from years past. These fillings are not particularly pleasing to the eye. Porcelain onlays and Tooth Colored Restorations create white fillings that are not only beautiful (or unnoticeable) but also add strength to weakened teeth. These restorations are esthetically pleasing and very strong thanks to new bonding technologies.

Advantages of Silver Fillings:

Silver fillings have been around for many, many years. They are very strong, durable and have withstood the test of time and for that reason they are still considered very good restorations for certain applications.

Disadvantages of Silver Fillings:

Silver fillings require the removal of a significant amount of tooth structure. The preparation for a silver filling is very aggressive and therefore does not conserve tooth structure. This can weaken teeth and make them more prone to fracture.

Advantages of White Fillings:

There are many advantages to tooth colored restorations. Resin onlays are bonded to the teeth creating a tight, superior fit to the natural tooth. Such restorations can be used in instances where much of the tooth structure has been lost. The tooth remains intact and stronger.

Since the resin used in tooth colored restorations contain fluoride this can help prevent decay. The resin wears like natural teeth and does not require placement at the gum line, which is healthier for your gums!

Replacing Silver fillings with a Tooth Colored Restoration

You can have your silver fillings replaced with Tooth colored restorations (onlays). This process can now be accomplished in one visit using Cerec CAD/CAM technology (Computer assisted design/computer assisted manufacturing).

Your First Appointment:

• The old filling is removed and any additional decay.
• An impression or image is recorded of your tooth or teeth. A model of your teeth is generated virtually using Cerec technology.
• After the computer assisted design of your restoration is complete your restoration is milled.
• A conditioning gel is placed on your tooth to prepare for the new Cerec onlay porcelain restoration.
• Bonding cement is placed on the tooth and a high intensity light bonds the resin to the tooth and the inner aspect of the new onlay restoration.
• The new restoration is then polished.

Your teeth are restored to a natural look and feel, they are stronger and the tooth is protected!