Dental Fillings
Enjoy a More Natural Smile with Composite Dental Fillings
Dental Fillings—The Best Solution for Tooth Restoration
At Awesome Dentistry, we rely on high-quality materials, latest technology, and advanced techniques to create restorations for our patients that last a lifetime. Our goal is to create results that are designed to be virtually undetectable. We use tooth-colored fillings as restorations when our patients have:
- Tooth decay
- Chipped teeth
- Cracked teeth
How do I know if I need a filling?
If you are experiencing discomfort in your teeth, you may be a good candidate for a filling. Teeth sensitivity is an effective indicator of decay or fracture. When you come in for an evaluation, Drs. Ivanova, Aleman, Salem or Kufta direct you to the appropriate dental treatment for your situation. We typically recommend fillings as the best solution for restoring teeth that have severe tooth decay, cracks, chips and cavities.
Dental Fillings—The Process
The procedure for placing a composite resin dental filling is a routine treatment that we do every day at Awesome Dentistry. Here’s how it works:
- Drs. Ivanova, Aleman, Salem or Kufta isolate the tooth from saliva to keep it dry.
- Any dental decay is removed.
- An etchant and a bonding agent are applied, followed by the composite resin.
- A special light is used to harden each layer of composite resin material.
- After the tooth is filled, the composite resin is shaped to resemble a real tooth.
- Finally, the restoration is smoothed and polished to accommodate your bite.
What’s the difference between a filling and an inlay/onlay?
A filling does what it says it does; it is filling in a cavity, a hole that has been created by decay or trauma, essentially restoring normal tooth anatomy. When we create a filling from composite resin, we shade the white material so that it blends naturally with your surrounding tooth structure. The result is a restoration that is practically invisible.
Inlays and onlays are used when the damage or decay to a tooth requires more than a filling, but less than a crown. In other words, if your tooth does not have enough tooth structure for a filling but it is not so severely damaged that it warrants a crown, you may be a candidate for an inlay or onlay.
What are composite resin fillings and restorations?
Composite resin fillings are the most common alternative to dental amalgam. They are sometimes called “tooth-colored” or “white” fillings because of their color. Composite resin fillings are made of a type of plastic (an acrylic resin) reinforced with powdered glass filler. Composite resin is often placed in layers to build up the final restoration, then cured with an “ultra-violet light.” This light energy speeds up the chemical reaction of the components causing the soft material to harden and bond to the tooth. This material is considered safe. The color (shade) of composite resins can be customized to closely match surrounding teeth. This plastic and glass mixture contains no metal and can be shaped to resemble a real tooth. It is usually hard to tell if a tooth has even been filled!
Benefits of Composite Resin Restorations
- Preferred white/natural-looking color
- Better for smaller fillings
- Preservation of more tooth structure
Since the resin used in tooth-colored restorations contains fluoride, it can help prevent decay. The resin wears like natural teeth and does not require placement at the gum line, another advantage that reinforces gum health.
What’s wrong with metal/amalgam fillings?
In addition to being more aesthetically pleasing, composite fillings are completely safe and non-toxic. Some believe that these advantages don’t ring true for metal fillings. Some research suggests that amalgam fillings, made with mercury, silver, tin, copper, and other metals, may lead to health problems. However, the American Dental Association Council on Scientific Affairs has concluded that both amalgam and composite materials are safe and effective for tooth restoration.
We are excited to be able to restore decayed teeth to their optimal appearance and function with fillings, inlays, and onlays. At Awesome Dentistry, we use dental fillings to help adult and pediatric patients preserve their healthy, beautiful teeth and avoid additional damage.
The result of high-quality composite fillings is a beautiful, healthy smile. For more information about our dental fillings, call our office today! Awesome Dentistry Phone Number (630) 571-3030
