Suspect you have a cavity? You know the drill. We remove the decayed portion of your tooth and fill the resulting hole to prevent further damage. Traditionally, the filling material used for this procedure was silver amalgam, which is durable and cost-effective but has a noticeable metallic color that can mar the appearance of your smile.
The good news is that you don’t have to choose between filling a cavity and having an aesthetically pleasing smile. Enter tooth-colored fillings.
These fillings are made of composite resin, a mixture of plastic and glass that can be tinted to match the natural shade of your teeth. This means that once the filling is in place, it blends seamlessly with your surrounding tooth structure, making it virtually indistinguishable from your real teeth.
At Lancaster Dental Care Associates in Lancaster, California, our team of expert providers offers tooth-colored fillings to ensure you have a healthy and beautiful smile.
Here’s a closer look at tooth-colored fillings.
There are several advantages to choosing tooth-colored fillings over silver amalgam:
Tooth-colored fillings look much better than silver fillings and can help preserve the natural appearance of your teeth.
Composite resin can be used to fill cavities on any surface of your tooth, including the front and back, whereas silver amalgam is typically only used on your back teeth.
Unlike silver amalgam, tooth-colored fillings contain no mercury, a toxic substance that has raised concerns about potential health risks. The World Health Organization lists mercury as one of the top ten public health concerns, making a tooth-colored filling a great option for reducing your mercury exposure.
Not only do tooth-colored fillings look aesthetically pleasing, but they also stop the spread of decay. In other words, getting a composite filling is an effective way to stop other dental issues from developing. When a cavity forms in your tooth, it can quickly spread and cause damage to the surrounding area.
If left untreated, the decay can eventually lead to the need for more invasive and costly dental procedures such as root canals or extractions.
By getting a filling, the decay is removed and your tooth is sealed, preventing bacteria from spreading and causing further damage. This can also help prevent other dental issues such as gum disease and tooth sensitivity.
One of the most alluring advantages of tooth-colored fillings is that no one needs to know you’ve had a cavity. You can smile with confidence!
The process of getting a tooth-colored filling is straightforward and usually takes just one visit. First, our team removes the decayed portion of your tooth, and the remaining tooth structure is prepared to receive the filling material.
We apply the composite resin in layers, and once the final layer is applied, we cure it with a special light. Finally, the filling is shaped and polished to match the contours of your tooth.
Tooth-colored fillings are not only functional and durable, but they also offer a natural-looking and discreet solution to dental cavities. If you're concerned about the appearance of silver fillings in your teeth, talk to us about tooth-colored fillings as an alternative option.
With this treatment, we can keep your smile looking healthy and beautiful without anyone knowing you had a cavity. Book an appointment with our team at Lancaster Dental Care Associates today. Call or click to get started.
