Tooth-Colored Dental Fillings Strengthen Your Teeth & Conserve The Aesthetics Of Your Smile
If you have a small or moderately sized cavity, Brian J. Polidori, DDS , will typically recommend a dental filling to replace decayed tissue. At Colorado Premier Dental , we proudly offer tooth-colored dental fillings to our Lakewood, CO -area patients. Unlike metal fillings, tooth-colored fillings match your smile. They also achieve a stronger bond with the tooth, and can provide greater long-term health benefits.
Is a Composite Filling the Right Restoration for You?
Fillings are typically appropriate for small or medium cavities. If you have large area of decay that has severely weakened your tooth, Dr. Polidori may recommend a crown , inlay, or onlay. To make sure that a filling is an appropriate treatment for you, he will take x-rays and determine the extent of your cavity. A composite filling can also be appropriate if you have an old, damaged restoration, or if you have a metal filling you wish to replace for aesthetic reasons.
Placing Tooth-colored Fillings
Before placing your filling, Dr. Polidori will choose the right shade of composite. This material comes in various colors to match a range of smiles. Your dentist will be able to find one that is a virtually perfect match to the natural color of your teeth. When you are ready to begin, he will numb your tooth. Our local anesthesia, coupled with Dr. Polidori’s gentle techniques, will result in little, if any, discomfort. If you are anxious, we can provide deeper sedation , such as nitrous oxide or oral sedation.
Metal fillings can cause healthy teeth to look decayed, while tooth-colored resin provides a healthy, natural-looking appearance.
Once you are relaxed, Dr. Polidori will remove the decayed tissue from your tooth. Next, Dr. Polidori will place the filling in layers, and he will harden each layer with a curing light. When all layers are in place, he will remove any excess composite and he polish the filling to give it a very natural-looking appearance.
The Benefits of Composite Resin Fillings
A composite filling provides both aesthetic and practical benefits. Metal fillings can cause healthy teeth to look decayed, while tooth-colored resin provides a healthy, natural-looking appearance. In addition, composite will bond with your tooth more securely than metal. As a result, the filling will more successfully strengthen your tooth. Meanwhile, composite will not expand and contract in response to heat and cold. In contrast, metal can fluctuate significantly, which could seriously weaken your tooth over time. Finally, metal fillings contain trace amounts of mercury, which give the filling material its malleability.
Contact Us for More Information
Our composite fillings can have tremendous benefits for your smile and long-term dental health. If you are experiencing the symptoms of a cavity, or if you need to establish ongoing care with a trusted area dentist, please contact our office today and book an appointment.
