How Natural Do Tooth Colored Fillings Look?

Each year, increasing numbers of pediatric dentists offer advanced tooth-colored fillings instead of older metallic options. Still, many wonder whether these matching fillings look more natural than other filling types. The answer is yes, provided they are initially done correctly and properly taken care of afterward.

How closely do tooth-colored fillings match teeth?

Comparing enamel-colored fillings to other fillings and the original teeth can show how well the enamel-colored fillings blend with natural teeth.

In comparison to other filling types

When compared to amalgam and gold fillings, dentition color-matching fillings, such as composite resin or glass ionomer fillings, are significantly less apparent. Amalgam and gold fillings are metal and often maintain a metallic shininess. As a result, they regularly shine or catch and reflect light, especially when children open their mouths or give toothy grins, which immediately attract attention.

Amalgam fillings are also bright or dark silver or grey, and gold fillings are bright or dark gold, colors that greatly stand out against the generally white pigment of natural teeth. Even tooth-colored fillings that are not an exact match to the color of natural teeth are less noticeable than metal fillings.

In comparison to natural teeth

One advantage of tooth-colored fillings is that dentists can create them to match the color of a child's natural teeth, making them virtually indistinguishable. Many believe that when dentists say tooth-colored, they mean white. However, if they were white or off-white, they would still look different from most people's teeth.

A leading benefit of composite and glass ionomer fillings is their ability to blend more naturally into children's smiles. If these fillings were simply white-colored, they would not blend as well. Therefore, pediatric dentists customize these fillings to match the specific shade of the child's teeth during the procedure.

Dentists can even change the color of each filling based on the shade of the surrounding enamel where it is placed. Many children do not have consistent dentition coloration, so being able to change the color of every filling allows dentists to maintain the most natural appearance possible.

Composite and glass ionomer fillings are also quite resistant to staining, yet, they still can become tainted. To avoid staining the fillings and causing them to stand out from the surrounding dentition, children must follow a good oral hygiene regimen and attend regular checkups and cleanings with the pediatric dentist. Parents should also encourage their children to avoid certain foods and beverages that cause discoloration or brush, floss, and rinse immediately after consuming them.