Restoring teeth
Composite Fillings and Bonding
Composite is a tooth-coloured filling material that is hardened with a curing light. It is used both to restore cavities and, as bonding, to repair small chips or close gaps on front teeth. With bonding the teeth usually need no reduction at all, and only very little when needed.
- Visits
- Usually one
- Preparation
- Bonding usually needs no reduction
- Material
- Tooth-coloured composite resin
- Technique
- Built up in layers directly in the mouth
What is it?
Composite resin is a tooth-coloured material containing fine glass or quartz filler. It is applied in layers, each one hardened with a curing light, then shaped and polished. That is why most fillings and bonding can be finished in one visit.
Bonding means adding composite to the surface of front teeth to repair chips, close small gaps or refine their shape. Unlike porcelain veneers, it usually needs no enamel removal, and only very little when needed, so it is easier to reverse. Composite can stain and wear over time, so bonding typically needs polishing, touching up or replacing within a few years (often 3 to 10).
Composite is also widely used for back teeth. How long a composite filling lasts depends on keeping the tooth dry while it is placed, careful technique and regular check-ups. When a larger part of the tooth is lost, an inlay or onlay may be the better fit.
When can it be considered?
- Cavities caused by decay
- Small chips on front teeth
- Small gaps between teeth
- Minor changes to shape or colour
- Old fillings that no longer match (if they need replacing)
Examination and planning
The examination looks at how deep any decay goes and how much healthy tooth remains, with X-rays when needed. For bonding on front teeth the shade is chosen in near-daylight conditions and can be recorded with photographs.
Replacing sound amalgam fillings purely for appearance is generally not advised, because it removes healthy tooth structure as well. Whether a filling needs replacing is discussed at the examination based on its condition and what the tooth needs.
How the process works
Examination and shade
Decay and tooth structure are assessed and the shade is chosen.
Preparation
Decay is removed; for bonding the surface is conditioned.
Layering
Composite is built up in layers, each hardened with a curing light.
Shaping and polishing
The tooth is shaped and polished.
Bite check
Contacts are checked when you bite and chew.
Digital tools that may be used
- Digital photography
- Photos under standard conditions help with shade selection and with assessing the result.
- Intraoral scan
- When bonding is part of a smile design, the scan forms the basis of the design.
- Trial in the mouth
- Additions to front teeth can be previewed with a temporary material.
Aftercare
Recommended
- Brush twice a day and clean between the teeth
- Have the margins and polish checked at reviews
Best avoided
- Biting hard objects with the front teeth
- Frequent dark drinks and smoking, as bonding can pick up stains
Whether a treatment suits you can only be decided after an examination. Timelines and stages vary from person to person.
Frequently asked questions
How long does a composite filling last?
It depends on the material, the size of the filling, its position and home care. A well-placed, well-maintained composite filling usually lasts many years, and regular check-ups help catch problems at the edges early.
Should I replace my old amalgam fillings?
Replacing sound amalgam fillings purely for appearance is generally not advised, because it removes healthy tooth structure. If a filling is cracked, leaking or has decay around it, replacement is planned after the examination.
Bonding or veneers?
Bonding usually needs less reduction and can be done in one visit, but it can stain and may need touching up. Porcelain veneers resist staining better but usually need irreversible enamel reduction. The choice is made together based on your teeth and goals.
Related articles
Inlays and Onlays Explained: Filling vs Inlay/Onlay vs Crown
Choosing between a filling, an inlay or onlay and a crown depends mainly on how much healthy tooth remains. Here are the differences, how ceramic restorations are made and what studies show.
How Digital Smile Design Works: Process, Mock-Up and Realistic Expectations
Digital smile design is a way of planning treatment, not a treatment in itself. This guide walks through photos, scans and the in-mouth mock-up, and explains what a digital design can and cannot show.
Related treatments
All treatments- premolars, molarsInlays and OnlaysCeramic or composite pieces designed from a digital scan and bonded to teeth with damage too large for a filling but not yet needing a crown.
- incisors, canines, premolarsPorcelain VeneersThin ceramic shells bonded to the visible surface of front teeth, considered for colour, shape and small gaps.
- incisors, caninesSmile DesignA planning process that looks at tooth colour, shape and proportions together with the face and lips, using photographs, an intraoral scan and a trial smile.
Questions about composite fillings and bonding?
You can send your questions on WhatsApp or reach the practice by phone.