Posterior Composite Fillings

While amalgam fillings can be used to repair large areas of decay in back teeth, tooth colored composite fillings offer an alternative and less visible way to restore teeth damaged by tooth decay. The materials used in today’s modern composite material fillings are extremely strong. We use the best and most technologically advanced composite material to repair teeth and these come in many different shades and translucencies so the filing can be closely matched to your child’s natural teeth.

Advantages of Using Composite Fillings to Repair Back Teeth

Advantages include:

• Composite fillings bonds very strongly to natural teeth, protecting the remaining tooth structure.
• Our pediatric dentist in NJ only needs to remove a minimal amount of tooth structure during preparation so the maximum amount of tooth is preserved.
• Once completed, the filling should be virtually invisible and unlike silver-colored amalgams will not create darker areas in the mouth.
• Composite fillings help protect the tooth. An amalgam filling will expand and contract when it comes into contact with hot and cold and this continual flexing can create micro-fractures in a tooth over time, eventually weakening it. Composite fillings works in harmony with the tooth structure and does not have this effect.
• Composite fillings can be ideal for repairing a child’s permanent teeth and fillings should last for several years before they need replacing.

Composite fillings fillings can be slightly more expensive to place compared to more visible amalgam fillings. This is because the materials used are more expensive and the technique to place a composite filing is more involved and lengthier. These fillings should last for several years before they eventually need replacing, but their condition will be assessed at each regular examination to ensure they are not leaking or are teeth chipped or cracked tooth. (see Cracked Teeth Treatment)

The Procedure for Placing a Posterior Composite Filling

Our New Jersey pediatric dentist will prepare the tooth by removing all decayed teeth areas. They will make sure the cavity is thoroughly clean and dry before filing the tooth. If the tooth cavity is near the pulp in the center of the tooth, they might place a special liner to help protect the pulp before applying the composite in tiny increments. The filling is gradually built up until it is the proper size and shade and is hardened using a special light. The final step is to shape the filling, making sure it doesn’t interfere with the bite before polishing it to a natural sheen.

D2391 Comp fillings, One Surf., Post., Perm or Prim (includes PRR)

D2392 Composite fillings, Two Surfaces, Post. (Perm or Primary)

D2393 Composite fillings, Three Surfaces, Post. (Perm or Primary)

D2394 Composite fillings, Four Surfaces, Post. (Perm or Primary)