Tooth-Colored Fillings
Cavities are pretty common. In fact, the CDC reports that just about every person in the U.S. will have a cavity at some point in his or her life. We’ve come a long way in the fight against cavities, though. Thanks to routine professional dental care, good home hygiene habits, and preventive measures like fluoride and sealants, we can significantly reduce the number of cavities you are likely to experience.
If you do happen to have developed a cavity, we can take care of it quickly, comfortably, and leave practically no trace! Tooth-colored fillings, made of a composite resin, blend in beautifully with the natural shade of your enamel so that once your filling is placed, even you will have a hard time identifying it!
What Is a Tooth-Colored Filling?
In the past, dentists relied on silver amalgam fillings. These metal fillings did the job fairly well, but they had one big problem. They were highly visible – especially when placed in the front teeth.
Today, we have an option for filling cavities that contains no mercury or any other metal and is virtually invisible once it is placed.
The Advantages of Tooth-Colored Fillings
The benefits of composite resin fillings don’t end with their ability to blend in with your enamel, however.
Amalgam fillings are held in place within the tooth mechanically. When placing an amalgam filling, the dentist has to remove extra material from the tooth to create an “anchor” that will hold the filling in place. Composite fillings, on the other hand, actually bond with the structure of the tooth. This means that we can preserve more of your natural tooth structure.
Additionally, this ability to bond with your tooth makes the composite filling more secure and reduces the risk of the filling coming loose or leaking. This can happen with amalgam fillings, increasing the chances that decay will begin again behind the filling. Over time, amalgam fillings have also been associated with cracking and other damage to the tooth.
Since composite resin matches the appearance of natural enamel so well, it can even be used for cosmetic or structural fixes. We can repair cracks and chips, conceal areas of discoloration, and even build up worn-down teeth using tooth-colored composite filling material.
Placing a Filling
Placing a composite filling is a fairly simple and straightforward procedure that can usually be completed in a single visit. Dr. Wahlers will begin by making sure that you are comfortable. If needed, anesthetic may be used to numb the tooth. At that point, the damaged portion of the tooth will be removed.
When the tooth is prepared, Dr. Wahlers will begin applying the resin in layers. Each layer will be cured using a special type of light. Once the cavity is filled, Dr. Wahlers will adjust the filling, remove any excess, and polish it to perfection. He will then check your bite to make sure that everything is aligned properly, and you’ll be all set!
Is It Time for a Check-Up?
Regular examinations at our East Norristown dental office will help us identify cavities or any other dental concerns at the earliest possible stage for conservative treatment. If you are due for a cleaning or examination, please call our office today to schedule an appointment!
Meet Our Doctor:
Dr. Christopher Wahlers
Dr. Wahlers was born and raised in central New Jersey. He attended Gettysburg College for his undergraduate studies, where he majored in biology, graduating summa cum laude. During his undergraduate volunteer experiences in different medical settings, Christopher decided to pursue a career in dentistry.
During his time at New Jersey Dental School (Rutgers University), Christopher served as president of his class and graduated in 2003 as a member of the OKU National Dental Honor Society. He continued his education with an Advanced Dental Education residency program at Temple University.
Prior to Wahlers ...
Featured Blog Posts - Tooth-Colored Fillings
Treating Cavities Prevents Bigger Problems
People often believe that their teeth are healthy as long as there is no pain or sensitivity. The truth is that most cavities have no symptoms at all, until they become very large and approach the nerve tissue deep inside the tooth. By that time, root canal therapy or an extraction may be the only options. It is much better to have a simple filling placed when the cavity is just starting. Early cavities can usually be detected during a dental examination, sometimes requiring dental X-rays.
This is an example of a patient that recently came into my office. The patient had no complaints and his teeth felt great. We found cavities on two of his back molars. I used an ...