Tooth-Colored Fillings New Hanover County

If you’re concerned about cavities, preventive dentistry is the key to protecting your smile before problems start. At our New Hanover County dental office, we focus on early detection and minimally invasive treatment options to stop cavities from worsening and preserve your natural teeth.

• Early Detection Prevents Bigger Problems: Regular exams and professional cleanings help us identify the first signs of tooth decay—often before you feel any symptoms. Catching cavities early means we can treat them quickly with small, conservative fillings.
• Tooth-Colored Fillings That Blend In: When we do need to restore a tooth, we offer modern, tooth-colored dental fillings in New Hanover County. These composite fillings are durable, natural-looking, and restore the strength and function of your tooth without compromising your smile.
• Avoid Pain and Expense Later: Left untreated, cavities can lead to toothaches, infections, or even tooth loss. Preventive care is not only more comfortable but also more affordable in the long run. A small filling today can prevent the need for a crown or root canal tomorrow.
• Healthy Teeth, Healthy Life: Cavities don’t just affect your smile—they can impact your overall health. By staying ahead of dental decay, we help you maintain strong, healthy teeth and avoid complications.

Benefits of Tooth-Colored Fillings

Tooth-colored fillings are better than traditional metal amalgam fillings for many reasons, which is why our New Hanover County dentists often recommend them for their numerous advantages:

• More attractive appearance
• Creates a seal with natural teeth
• Require removal of less natural tooth material
• Can strengthen weakened teeth
• Provide better insulation against heat and cold
• Can last longer than metal amalgam fillings
• Don’t contain toxic mercury

The most recognizable benefit of tooth-colored fillings is that they don’t stand out the way metal amalgam or gold fillings do. Metal amalgam fillings start out silver, but they can rapidly turn black, resulting in an appearance that may be even worse than the cavity they are filling.

Another problem with metal amalgam fillings is that they are just pressed into the hole in your tooth. They aren’t actually bonded to the tooth, which means they won’t create a good seal. Tooth-colored fillings are bonded to your natural teeth, creating a tight seal.

Tooth-colored fillings are made of plastic and/or ceramic, so they provide about the same level of insulation against heat and cold as your natural tooth. Metal amalgam fillings are metal and conduct heat or cold into the tooth. The metal amalgam also shrinks faster in response to cold, which means it becomes smaller than the hole in the tooth, and allows liquid in around the filling. When the temperature returns to normal, the liquid is forced back out of the hole. This is described as percolation, and it can lead to damage to the tooth.

Another problem occurs when the filling is exposed to heat. It expands faster than the tooth, pushing against the tooth enamel, causing cracking. It may also push into the tooth and cause pressure sensitivity.

Despite these problems, metal amalgam fillings can be durable. But tooth-colored fillings can last even longer.

One concern many people have about metal amalgam fillings is that they contain mercury, which is known to be toxic. Dentists are being urged to add special filters to their practices to prevent mercury from reaching water supplies because it contaminates the ecosystem and makes fishes toxic to eat. Although the FDA and the American Dental Association claim that metal amalgam fillings are safe, many people do not like the thought that they will have this toxic substance in their teeth.

Types of Tooth-Colored Fillings

Tooth-colored fillings come in several forms, each designed to meet different restorative needs while maintaining the natural look of your smile. The two most common types are composite fillings and ceramic inlays/onlays. Which option is best depends on the size of the cavity, the location of the tooth, and how much healthy structure remains.

Composite Fillings

Composite fillings are a modern, attractive solution for restoring teeth affected by decay, chips, or minor damage. Made from a durable blend of resin and finely ground glass particles, composite fillings bond directly to your natural tooth structure—offering both strength and aesthetics.

Unlike metal amalgam fillings, composite fillings in New Hanover County are designed to blend seamlessly with your natural enamel, making them virtually invisible when you smile or speak. They are ideal for treating small to mid-sized cavities, especially in visible areas of the mouth.

Why Choose Composite Fillings?

Composite fillings are the preferred choice for many patients and dentists alike because they offer:

• A Natural Look: Matched to the color of your tooth, composite fillings enhance the beauty of your smile while restoring its function.
• Durable Bonding: The material bonds to your tooth, reinforcing the surrounding structure and helping to prevent future breakage.
• Conservative Treatment: Less drilling is required compared to metal fillings, preserving more of your healthy tooth.
• Thermal Comfort: Unlike metal, composite materials don’t expand or contract as drastically with temperature changes, reducing tooth sensitivity.
• Mercury-Free: Composite fillings are made without mercury, making them a safer, more environmentally friendly option.

Inlays & Onlays for Dental Fillings

When a tooth has too much damage for a traditional filling but doesn’t need a full dental crown, inlays and onlays offer an ideal middle-ground solution. At our New Hanover County dental office, we often recommend ceramic inlays and onlays to restore strength, function, and appearance to compromised teeth—especially molars and premolars affected by larger cavities or worn-out fillings.

What Are Inlays and Onlays?

Inlays and onlays are a form of indirect dental filling—meaning they are custom-crafted outside the mouth and then bonded to the tooth.

• Inlays are used when decay or damage is within the tooth’s chewing surface, between the cusps.
• Onlays are larger and extend over one or more of the tooth’s cusps, covering a broader area.

Both are made from high-quality ceramic materials that match your natural tooth color and offer excellent durability and protection.

Why Choose Inlays or Onlays?

Compared to traditional composite fillings, ceramic inlays and onlays:

• Provide a stronger, longer-lasting solution
• Preserve more healthy tooth structure than full crowns
• Blend seamlessly with surrounding enamel
• Resist staining and wear over time

They’re especially useful for treating larger cavities or replacing old metal fillings that may be failing or leaking.

When Is a Dental Crown Needed Instead of a Filling

While tooth-colored fillings and inlays/onlays are excellent options for restoring mild to moderate decay or damage, there are situations where a dental crown is the better—and sometimes only—choice.

A dental crown is typically recommended when:

• The tooth is severely decayed or structurally compromised. If too much of the natural tooth has been lost, a filling or inlay/onlay won’t provide enough strength or protection.
• The tooth has undergone root canal therapy. After a root canal, the remaining tooth structure is often brittle and vulnerable to fracture. A crown fully encases the tooth to keep it intact.
• There’s a large, failing filling. If an old filling has broken down or covers a large portion of the tooth, replacing it with another filling may not be reliable.
• The tooth is cracked or fractured. A crown can hold the tooth together and prevent the crack from spreading.
• The tooth is worn down. Teeth worn from grinding or acid erosion may need full coverage to restore their shape, function, and appearance.

Crowns are made to fit over the entire visible portion of your tooth, offering maximum protection, stability, and long-term durability. In cases where strength and coverage are essential, a crown ensures your tooth is properly restored and protected for years to come.

Restore Your Smile with Confidence

Whether you need a small filling, a ceramic onlay, or a full dental crown, Kuzma Advanced Dentistry offers personalized, high-quality care to restore your tooth and protect your long-term oral health. Our New Hanover County dental office uses advanced technology and materials to ensure every restoration is strong, natural-looking, and built to last.

If you’re ready to treat a cavity or replace an old filling, we’re here to help. Call (910) 392-6060 today to schedule your consultation and take the next step toward a healthier, more confident smile.