Benefits of Tooth-Colored Fillings
For many years when your dentist detected dental decay, dental amalgam or gold were the products used to fill the tooth after the dentist removed the actual decay. Amalgam is silver metallic in appearance and contains mercury. With the option of a composite resin material to repair dental decay, your cosmetic dentist can now offer you dental repairs that are virtually undetectable.
The primary reason that so many patients select composite resin for dental fillings is the aesthetic beauty they provide. Your cosmetic dentist can match the shade of the filling material so closely to the natural color of your tooth, a filling can be completed in your smile line and go entirely unnoticed.
In addition to dental fillings, this same material can be used to cover stain or uneven tooth discolorations due to medication, diet or lifestyle habits. Minor cosmetic repairs are also suitable to being restored with cosmetic resin such as correcting gaps between teeth, reshaping teeth to even out a misshapen smile or covering an exposed root due to gum recession.
Besides its aesthetic value, composite resin will offer durability and strength to the tooth that is treated. This is due to the material being placed on the tooth in small increments and hardened in stages with either a curing light or a laser. The composite resin is placed in or on an area that has been treated with a coating of a bonding agent which prepares the tooth to accept the material and adhere securely. This application process also results in the reduction of sensitivity to hot or cold.
Another advantage to composite resin fillings over amalgam is much less of the tooth is impacted using the composite material. Also, over time the silver amalgam can become even more discolored giving it a darker appearance than when first put in.
As previously mentioned, dental amalgam contains mercury. The material used in making tooth colored fillings is a plastic resin, and there have not been any health hazards associated with the use of composite resin making it the completely safe choice for dental repairs.
Once your cosmetic dentist has finished your restoration, it will be adjusted for utmost comfort levels and polished to most closely match the surrounding teeth. In one visit you will have a completed dental repair that rivals the appearance of your natural teeth.
Composite resin is the most logical and aesthetically pleasing product available today to correct minor cosmetic issues and repair dental cavities. Contact our experienced dental team serving Nassau County to learn of all the options available to satisfy your dental needs.
