Most fillings in molars are done with metal-colored materials, rather than tooth-colored materials. One hearty laugh and your fillings are showing, and for some people this can be a point of embarrassment, but it doesn’t have to be. The procedure is called “Posterior Restoration,” and it’s a term that’s already been the butt of a good many jokes, but if you want to guffaw in mixed company, it’s no laughing matter. If you’re looking to replace those old, metal fillings with new, tooth-colored fillings, you probably have a lot of questions. We’ll run down the basic procedure, but if you still have questions, call and set up an appointment and we’ll be happy to answer any other questions you may have. 

The Posterior Appointment  I know, I know, it sounds funny, but posterior just refers to back teeth, as opposed to anterior. Replacing an old posterior filling, crown or bridge can be achieved through a variety of techniques. Sometimes it can be done in a single visit to the office using composite resin filling material. If best results can’t be had in a single trip, we’ll have our skilled, local laboratory fabricate your restoration to our exacting standards. As an important side note, even though it is more expensive for us, we never order laboratory fabrications from overseas providers. The strict standards required in the United States have always provided us with the highest quality standards possible, and as a result, our practice was not affected by the accidental introduction of lead into dental work last year.

The Preparation Appointment  When natural tooth structure can be retained, a cosmetic inlay or onlay may be made from porcelain (or a stronger composite materials only available through a dental laboratory.) When natural tooth structure can not be preserved, a tooth-colored full-coverage crown or bridge may be needed to achieve the desired aesthetic results. The old restoration and any decay will be removed from your tooth at this time. Once this is done, impressions will be taken of the prepared area and sent to the laboratory for custom fabrication. A temporary restoration will be put onto your tooth until the new one is ready. Be very careful with this one, as it is not as strong as the permanent will be. Avoid caramel, hard candy and contact sports that might require a mouth guard.

The Cementation Appointment  Once the fabrication is done and ready to go, you’ll come back in to have the temporary piece removed and replaced. We’ll use the strongest, industry-leading bonding agent to permanently cement your new restoration in place.Your newly restored tooth will look, feel and function like your natural teeth and require the same degree of care to preserve. Our dental practice embraces aesthetic and functional dentistry to help you obtain the attractive and healthy smile that you desire. We focus on our patients, and as dental care providers, it is our intention to help you achieve and maintain a beautiful and healthy smile through regularly scheduled checkups and planned treatment.