Bonding & White Filling

Dental bonding is a treatment in which a tooth-colored composite resin is applied to a tooth, shaped, and hardened with a special light. Bonding is used to repair chips, close small gaps, cover discoloration, and improve the shape of a tooth, usually in a single visit.

A white filling, also called a tooth-colored or composite filling, restores a tooth that has been damaged by decay. The composite material is matched to the shade of your natural teeth, so the filling blends in with your smile.

White fillings are made of tooth-colored composite resin, while silver fillings are made of metal amalgam. White fillings blend in with your natural teeth, contain no metal, and bond directly to the tooth, which often allows more of the natural tooth structure to be preserved.

Dental bonding can repair chipped or cracked teeth, close small gaps between teeth, cover stains or discoloration, rebuild worn edges, and make teeth look more even in shape and length. It is a conservative option for minor cosmetic and structural concerns.

For a white filling, the area is numbed, the decay is removed, and the composite resin is placed in layers and hardened with a curing light. For cosmetic bonding, the tooth surface is lightly prepared, and the resin is applied, sculpted, hardened, and polished. Both treatments are usually completed in one visit.

Brush twice a day, floss daily, and visit the dentist for regular checkups. Avoid biting hard objects such as ice, pens, or fingernails, and be aware that coffee, tea, red wine, and tobacco can stain composite resin over time.

In many cases, yes. If a silver filling is worn, cracked, or has new decay around it, Dr. Hwang can discuss replacing it with a tooth-colored filling. He will evaluate your existing fillings and recommend what is best for the health of your teeth.