Cosmetic & Family Dentistry

Composites - Bonding

Composite Bonding is the process of restoring a tooth with a natural tooth colored resin.  Composites are also known as "white fillings".  The dentist restores the surface of a tooth by directly bonding to the enamel, with a special bonding adhesive, and then cures it place with an LED blue light. Bonding is a technique that allows us to produce dramatic results very quickly and easily. With composites, we are able to restore teeth back to health after decay or fracture. 

Composites can be used in the front teeth (anterior) and the back (posterior) teeth. You can replace old, dark, tarnished silver fillings with white composite fillings, if the restorations remain small.  In some cases, replacing silver amalgams should be done with a crown or an onlay, depending on the size and width across the biting surface.  In other words, composites have limits in terms of size.  Ask your dentist what the best, most long lasting restoration would be for your particular tooth. Bonding can also be used as a less expensive alternative to porcelain veneers in the anterior, to close spaces or fill in where decay has set in. It is often used after orthodontics if space remains due to tooth size discrepancy following orthodontic completion.  With composite bonding we are able to create beautiful smiles in just one visit. 

​​Angela Hilton-Foley, DMD

(813) 891-1212

Composite fillings are used to:

• close spaces between teeth 
  
• cover discolored or stained areas of teeth
  
• replace old silver fillings with an aesthetic white filling
  
• cover a root surface that is sensitive
  
• repair broken or fractured teeth