Tooth colored restorations are fillings made of a complex molecular structure of a resin matrix and fillers that match the natural color of your tooth.
Tooth colored restorations replace unsightly silver dental amalgam. The composite resins used in today's Tooth colored restorations were introduced in the 1960's, and have undergone continual improvements in durability, color stability, material handling qualities, and aesthetic properties.
Tooth colored restorations are bonded to the tooth structure, whereas silver/amalgam restorations are "locked" into tooth structure. This property of resin restorations makes them a very conservative approach to tooth restoration because less drilling of the tooth is required for securing the filling.
Appearance
Tooth colored filling material comes in a great number of shades and are matched to your individual tooth color. The materials used for front teeth have a high shine; whereas, the materials for back teeth are designed for strength. Tooth colored restorations look natural and can be virtually undetectable.
Durability
Tooth colored fillings now are harder and more comparable to silver amalgam fillings. A small filling could conceivably last a lifetime, and larger fillings can be expected to last many years. The factors that determine the life span of a particular filling include: the biting force on the filling, the size of the filling relative to the tooth (smaller fillings will usually be more durable than larger fillings), and how teeth are cleaned and maintained daily.
Noticability
A new filling should feel natural and comfortable, like your own teeth. After the anesthesia has worn away and you can feel your teeth and bite again, you should not notice anything particularly different. It should be smooth and comfortable. There is a period that you might feel some sensitivity to temperature after the restoration is placed. It is temporary as with any other restorations when they are placed on teeth.