Can Tooth-Colored Fillings Be Whitened?

Unfortunately, the actual filling cannot be whitened. That’s why it’s essential to plan the timing of your teeth whitening with other cosmetic dental treatments. That way, you can be assured that the smile delivered at the end of your smile makeover will be a smile that will last for years.

Call us today if you’d like to learn more about tooth-colored dental fillings in Marshfield, MA, or other cosmetic dental procedures we provide at Beautiful South Shore Smiles. We also invite you to keep reading to learn more about tooth-colored fillings and other cosmetic procedures available from our dentist near you.

More Information about Tooth-Colored Fillings

Not only are tooth-colored dental fillings in Marshfield, MA, one of the most popular choices for a natural-looking restored tooth, but they have some other distinct benefits. One of the first is that tooth-colored fillings are a mercury-free treatment. Silver-colored fillings can sometimes contain mercury which is a toxic and controversial element. The material has health-related concerns such as respiratory failure, kidney damage, etc.

Although they used to use mercury in decades past, many patients elect to replace their old fillings with safer materials. If you have silver fillings and would like to learn about replacing them with composite fillings, please call us today.

Here are some additional advantages of composite fillings over mercury fillings:

• Tooth-colored fillings are non-toxic.
• Tooth-colored fillings are customized to match the shade of your teeth.
• Tooth-colored fillings may be covered by dental insurance.
• Tooth-colored fillings result in less tooth sensitivity.
• Tooth-colored fillings are considered less invasive than other filling materials.
• Tooth-colored fillings will not cause tooth discoloration.

Dental bonding and crowns are other treatments to consider to restore a damaged tooth. Bonding uses composite resin to fix either a decayed or chipped tooth. The resin is adjusted so that its color matches the rest of your teeth. The same thinking holds for dental crowns. Dental crowns cover the entire surface to restore functionality and appearance, often considered the work-horse of a smile redesign. However, this procedure should be performed after tooth whitening to ensure a uniform appearance in the color of your teeth.

Designing Your Smile is Our Privilege

When you visit us for any cosmetic procedure, whether a tooth-colored filling or teeth whitening, our dentist in Marshfield, MA, will discuss your ultimate goals for a beautiful smile, while we can provide teeth whitening or dental fillings as stand-alone procedures, you’ll need to know the order of the procedures for the maximum benefit.

For example, if you come to us for tooth-colored dental fillings in Marshfield, MA, and secretly wish you had a whiter smile, it’s always recommended that you undergo teeth whitening first. That way, you can be guaranteed that the tooth-colored filling matches the tooth’s color (and surrounding teeth).

Doing it in this order also holds with dental veneers since they are resistant to teeth whitening once placed. Suppose you have one or more teeth that would benefit from dental veneers. You elect to have the procedure and are thrilled with the change in your smile. Then, you decide you want to whiten your teeth. Since dental veneers are resistant to whitening – whether it’s professional whitening or over-the-counter whitening products – the teeth with dental veneers will not match the color of the teeth without them.

When you choose us for your smile redesign, we develop a treatment plan that works best for your immediate and long-term goals. When it’s time to whiten your teeth, we can also provide you with custom-made trays to be used at home to maintain your whiter smile. That way, you’ll be able to enjoy your smile makeover without repeated visits to our office for maintenance.