Lasting, Aesthetic Repair with Tooth-colored Dental Fillings

Our dental office provides modern dentistry techniques to meet the needs of every member of your family. Dr. Art Carpenter enjoys helping patients maintain a healthy, confident smile. To treat tooth decay, our practice offers composite resin dental fillings for patients in the Kenilworth, IL, area. These tooth-colored fillings blend beautifully with natural enamel and remain virtually undetectable in your smile.

Photo of restored molars with dental fillings
Composite fillings blend with the color of your natural teeth for lifelike results.

About Cavities

Tooth decay affects the vast majority of Americans - studies have shown over 42 percent of U.S. children have dental caries, and 92 percent of adults have fillings or untreated decay. Cavities are caused by acid that forms on teeth when sugar and bacteria combine. The acid and our natural saliva work to soften and dissolve layers of tooth enamel, leaving a hole or cavity. It’s important to treat tooth decay promptly. Unfilled cavities can cause pain and infection, which can lead to tooth loss or need for root canal or extraction.

Our dentists only place composite resin dental fillings for our patients. For many years, amalgam was the preferred method for filling teeth. Comprised of a mix of silver and other compounds, these fillings can be quite noticeable when you smile and converse. They are also prone to darkening with age and causing tooth discoloration, in addition to causing damage when they expand and contract with heat and cold. Preparation for amalgam also requires removal of excess tooth enamel and dentin. The filling is held in place by the dimensions of the precisely drilled hole.

Tooth-colored Fillings

Today, most dentists and patients prefer non-toxic, composite resin fillings. The material is made of ceramic and plastic compounds, often with added quartz and other hard minerals for further durability. Resin is typically softer than amalgam, and was once used strictly for front teeth, but new technology has improved this restorative procedure. Enhanced composite resins are now widely used for posterior teeth as well.

Benefits of Advanced Treatment

Many patients choose to replace aging amalgam with new tooth-colored fillings. Some are uncomfortable with ‘trace’ amounts of mercury, have suffered from damage because of amalgam reacting to temperature, or simply dislike the glint of metal in their smile. Composite resin fillings can be artfully tinted to match the shade of your teeth, providing a natural, metal-free look that does not respond to heat or cold. A composite resin filling also bonds directly to the tooth, allowing the physical integrity of the tooth to remain untouched, and providing additional strength.

Composite resin fillings can be artfully tinted to match the shade of your teeth, providing a natural, metal-free look that does not respond to heat or cold.

Experience Makes the Difference

Drs. Carpenter are highly-skilled dentists with years of experience treating tooth decay. Your dentist will first thoroughly clean your tooth and create the shade-matched compound. Once all decay has been removed we will place the composite resin and harden it with a curing light. Additional layers may be added to ensure a perfect fit, then the finished filling is polished.

We also use composite resins for cosmetic dentistry procedures, such as dental bonding to cover cracked, chipped, or discolored teeth. All dental care is provided with a gentle touch, and we offer the option of oral sedation for patients who prefer it.

Preserve Your Smile

If you need treatment for a cavity or are interested in replacing amalgam fillings with tooth-colored resin, please contact our office today. We are a family dentistry practice, so we welcome patients of all ages!

Office exterior

Art Carpenter, DDS, LTD

Dr. Carpenter has been practicing dentistry for over 20 years and is proud to offer various state-of-the-art services for his patients, including: 

  • Dental implants 
  • Fully guided implant surgery
  • Inman Aligner™ 

He regularly participates in continuing education programs to ensure that his patients are receiving the very best care. To schedule a consultation at our office, request an appointment online or call us at (847) 251-5004.

Send Us a Message Today

"We have been coming to Dr. Carpenter for several years now after seeing dentists that lacked good patient relationships. Dr. Carpenter is patient with those who fear going to the dentist (that's me), explains what needs to be done and provides different options for treatment. Worth the trek from the city!"

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