Having a cavity means that your tooth is decaying. Caused by an overabundance of harmful oral bacteria attacking your teeth, tooth decay is progressive and grows more severe the longer you wait to treat it. Fortunately, most patients at our Newhall, CA, dental office who seek treatment for their cavities early can often address it with a custom, biocompatible tooth filling. While fillings are among the oldest forms of restorative dental treatment, they’ve undergone several important advancements over time. Today, they offer unmatched restorative, functional, and cosmetic benefits for treating cavities that previous versions of tooth fillings couldn’t offer.
They no longer have metal in them
Before tooth-colored fillings became popular, most patients who needed to treat a cavity had to rely on metal amalgam as their tooth filling material. While durable against your bite pressure and strong enough to remain undamaged over the years, metal fillings can change shape over time, and their mercury content could be a health concern for certain patients. The composite resin used to create tooth-colored fillings doesn’t contain any traces of metal, and is instead made of finely ground, highly biocompatible acrylic and quartz particles.
They do a better job of stopping decay
When resin is placed on your tooth or within a cavity, it can be bonded more securely to your tooth structure than metal can. This is important for several reasons, but most importantly, the bond creates a tight, effective seal against harmful oral bacteria that could lead to more severe decay. This means that, after having your tooth-colored filling placed, you’ll have a much lower chance of needing more extensive treatment, such as root canal treatment or tooth extraction. The tighter, more secure bond also improves your tooth’s structural integrity, which can be compromised by the cavity’s development.
They can even be used for cosmetic purposes
Tooth-colored composite resin has grown increasingly more popular over the years, and for more than just creating tooth-colored fillings. The combined benefits of a highly lifelike appearance and ability to bond securely to almost any area of your tooth means that the resin can also be utilized for several cosmetic purposes. Known as cosmetic tooth bonding, the procedure involves placing, sculping, hardening, and polishing the resin on an area of your tooth that’s been chipped, worn down, lightly cracked, severely discolored, or otherwise blemished.
Learn if you need a tooth-colored filling
Dental fillings have long been a part of professional dental care, but modern tooth-colored fillings can do more for your smile and oral health than ever before. For more information, schedule a consultation by calling Newhall Dental Arts in Newhall, CA, today at (661) 259-7760.