How Do You Fix a Discolored Filling?

If you’ve noticed that your tooth-colored fillings that once matched the color of your teeth have changed over time, our dentist in Merrimack, NH, can help restore their appearance. When choosing a dentist near you for updates on your fillings’ color, we recommend selecting a dentist that focuses on smile makeovers and devotes time to using the latest technology and materials in their practice. Suppose you’re fortunate enough to find a dentist like Yelena Popkova DDS. She focuses on the nuances of color in nature and dentistry. Your tooth-colored fillings in Merrimack, NH, are sure to be color-matched, so future discoloration will not be a concern.

If you currently have a discolored filling and are curious to learn about treatment, there are options you can choose, such as having the top portion of it polished, dental veneers, and dental bonding. We’ll take a closer look at each of these procedures in a moment, but if you’d like to book an appointment for a personalized treatment plan, we invite you to make an appointment with our dentist near you today. When you visit My Merrimack Dentist, you’ll receive care from an experienced cosmetic and general dentist committed to providing the best dental care to her patients.

Restoring a Tooth-Colored Dental Filling

Composite restorations, also known as tooth-colored fillings, although durable, this material is subject to staining over time from food, beverages, and smoking, just like the surface of a patient’s natural teeth. Also, it’s possible that what appears as a stain could be discoloration from decay that is beneath the surface of the filling. When you maintain regular visits to your dentist for exams and teeth cleaning, it’s easier to stay on top of what might be causing the discoloring and treat any underlying causes before they manifest into more significant concerns.

Let’s assume that your staining resulted from food and beverages (and smoking, if that applies) over time. Our dentist might be able to polish it or buff it with polishing discs to revitalize its color. The amount of material that needs removal to refresh the filling’s appearance is only a few microns, so the tooth remains filled.

We see many patients who visit us after they’ve tried at-home whitening products and discovered that their tooth-colored filling that once matched is no longer visually pleasing. That’s one reason it’s essential to select professional teeth whitening from a dentist instead of using over-the-counter (OTC) treatments. Although it may be tempting to try OTC products because of their convenience, patients often experience future concerns that they had not planned. As a reminder, it’s always easier and more cost-effective to avoid damage to your teeth than to treat damage afterward.

Consider Dental Veneers

If you can easily see the discoloration of your filling is in the front area of your mouth, you may want to consider dental veneers. If you’re unfamiliar with this cosmetic dentistry treatment, dental veneers are a strong cap placed over the tooth that needs modification. They are one of the most diverse treatments in cosmetic dentistry since they can correct the appearance of discolored teeth as well as:

• Correct the size and shape of teeth.
• Close gaps between teeth.
• Repair physical flaws in teeth, such as cracks and chips.

Porcelain and resin-based composite veneers provide the same cosmetic benefits, but there are differences in their durability, cost, and preparation for placement. We invite you to visit us to learn more about dental veneers and receive a customized treatment plan for the material that will work best for you.

Dental Bonding is a Less Expensive Option

Dental bonding can make smile improvements like dental veneers, ranging from staining to correcting physical flaws. They are a less expensive option than dental veneers, but the material used is not as durable as porcelain or resin-based composite veneers.

We invite you to visit us to receive a treatment plan customized to your concern, budget, and goals to fix discolored fillings.