Cosmetic Fillings in Murfreesboro, TN

For A Strong, Beautiful Smile Without Metal

In the United States, cavities are quite common, but they can usually be fixed with a filling. In the past, metal fillings were favored due to their sturdy nature, but they also came with significant drawbacks such as being highly noticeable, causing increased sensitivity, and doing significant damage to the structure of the natural tooth. Today, Dr. Thompson and Drs. Starbody can offer their patients a cosmetic dentistry alternative in the form of cosmetic fillings.

What Are Cosmetic Fillings?

Cosmetic fillings, also called tooth-colored, composite, and mercury-free fillings, are non-metal fillings used to repair dental damage. They’re commonly made from a mix of composite materials such as resin and powdered quartz. Cosmetic fillings can address all of the same issues as metal fillings. However, because these fillings don’t use silver, gold, or other metals, they avoid many of the drawbacks associated with metal fillings.

Benefits of Cosmetic Fillings

Non-Toxic – No metal means there’s no toxic materials commonly found in metal, such as mercury and lead.

Natural Appearance – As the name implies, these restorations are made for cosmetic purposes, so they’re customized to look like your real teeth and blend seamlessly with your natural smile. 

Non-Staining – These non-metallic fillings also won’t stain or darken your teeth the way silver (amalgam) fillings will with time. 

Thermal Resistance – Cosmetic fillings don’t expand and contract upon exposure to hot and cold, which results in less pressure being exerted on the inside of the tooth. This prevents excess sensitivity and damage to the surrounding tooth structure. 

Insulated Against Electricity – No metal means there’s no chance of galvanic shock. Galvanic shock occurs when two metal fillings of differing compositions interact and a current passes between them, shocking the inside of your mouth.

Preserves Enamel – The materials used in cosmetic fillings require less of your natural tooth be removed, helping to preserve the tooth’s structure. 

Sets Instantly – Cosmetic fillings are applied in layers and hardened instantaneously with a handheld blue light, so you don’t have to wait for them to set. 

Replace Older Fillings – Dr. Thompson and Drs. Starbody are more than equipped to remove old amalgam or gold fillings and replace them with these natural-looking restorations whenever you’d like. 

The Cosmetic Filling Process

Your Initial Consultation

Before you can receive your fillings, your dentist will collect some necessary information from you at an initial consultation. During your initial consultation, your dentist will also discuss your smile goals with you and offer sedation therapy to help ease any anxiety and make the procedure go smoother. Once you and your dentist have agreed to go forward with fillings, we’ll schedule your next appointment.

Preparation

To prepare your teeth, we’ll apply a local anesthetic to numb the pain. We’ll also ensure your sedative is working properly if you opted for sedation. Once we’re sure you’re comfortable, your dentist will remove any damaged or decayed material from your teeth using specialized tools. 

Applying Your Filling

Once the tooth is clean, your dentist will apply the filling in layers, hardening each layer as they go with a handheld blue light. The filling will harden almost instantly, so once you leave our Murfreesboro office, you can start enjoying your new smile without the wait.