Porcelain Fillings

Modesto, Manteca, Ceres, Turlock, Salida, Ripon, California Dentist

Cavities are a common problem and can happen even to individuals who practice good dental hygiene. But having a cavity should be between you and your dentist, not you and the rest of the world. That is why the Modesto family dentists at Sierra Dental Care use white fillings with our patients.

Porcelain Fillings vs. Composite Fillings

Cosmetic dentistry deals with more than performing a smile makeover. It also encompasses even the smallest dental repairs, such as fillings. Although tooth-colored fillings have long been available as an alternative to metal fillings, their title can be misleading. Traditional “tooth-colored” fillings are made of composite resin, and while they are less noticeable than metal fillings, they come in a limited range of tints and do not respond to teeth whitening the way your natural tooth enamel does.

Porcelain fillings, however, more closely mirror the color and properties of your natural teeth. Your porcelain filling can be created to approximate the hue of the surrounding tooth enamel. Slight variations in color can be achieved and therefore, when applied to a cavity, a porcelain filling can become virtually invisible. Composite fillings are more prone to discoloration over time because they are more porous than porcelain. As a result, they are more likely to show tea or coffee stains.

Porcelain fillings are less likely to expand or contract, which may cause your teeth to break. Though they cost more than composite, porcelain fillings are more likely to last as long as your teeth do.

Applying Porcelain Fillings

Porcelain fillings are created after one of our Modesto family dentists cleans your tooth and removes the decayed section. High definition digital images are created of your teeth, or an impression may be made. Rather than a metal filling, your friends and family will see a healthy, white tooth.

For more information, see Porcelain Filling Questions.

If you would like to learn more about having your metal or composite fillings replaced with porcelain fillings, please contact our Modesto general dentistry office today to schedule an appointment. Sierra Dental Care serves patients in the Modesto, Salida, Ceres, Ripon, and Manteca, California areas.