The Clear Choice: Exploring the Benefits of Tooth-Colored Fillings
The family dentist in Northwest Albuquerque, NM, provides composite fillings for repairing mild to moderate cavities, particularly in noticeable areas like the front teeth. Over recent decades, composite fillings have gained popularity due to their superior aesthetics and the ease of working with the material for tooth restorations. They have effectively supplanted traditional amalgam fillings, enabling dentists to address mild to moderate cavities while delivering long-lasting and resilient results. Let’s delve into the details of composite fillings.
| A composite filling comprises a blend of plastic resin and powdered glass filler, utilized in dentistry to restore decayed, cracked, or fractured tooth surfaces. After being placed onto the cleaned and prepared tooth surface, it undergoes polymerization, a hardening process facilitated by a specialized light-cured adhesive. These fillings serve both functional and aesthetic purposes, aiding in the restoration of lost tooth structure. |
When are composite fillings indicated?
Composite fillings are helpful to restore:
- Chipped or cracked teeth
- Teeth with diastema (space or gaps in between your teeth)
- Dental decay in the visible areas of your mouth
- Teeth that are worn out due to attrition (aging), increased masticatory forces, or bruxism (involuntary, persistent clenching and grinding of the teeth)
What are the benefits offered by composite fillings?
Composite fillings are often preferred by dentists worldwide since they offer several benefits:
They are aesthetically superior
- Composite fillings are tooth-colored restorations and easily blend with your natural tooth structure offering superior aesthetics.
Composites directly bond to the tooth enamel
- Composite fillings bond directly to the enamel surface through microblogging and polymerization, thus establishing a stronger seal.
Composites do not contain mercury
- Mercury is toxic and can harm the body when ingested. Unlike amalgam restorations, composite fillings do not contain mercury.
Composite restoration is a quick procedure
- Composite fillings are quick and painless procedures that usually take 10 to 15 minutes.
They preserve the natural tooth structure
- Composite fillings do not require extensive tooth preparation. This preserves most of the tooth structure, integrity, strength, and resilience.
They effectively protect from dental caries
- Composite fillings contain fluorides that help prevent the development of caries in the future. Fluorides reverse tooth decay by a process called remineralization.
They are stain-resistant
- The resin in composite filling does not stain the teeth, making it stain-resistant.
They offer excellent durability and strength
- The composite material hardens through polymerization, improving composites’ strength and resilience.
Tooth-colored composite fillings are resilient and gaining popularity in modern dentistry, surpassing traditional amalgam restorations thanks to their numerous benefits. Consider these aesthetic fillings to rejuvenate and improve your oral health. Consult your dentist to determine if composite fillings are suitable for you!
