Benefits of tooth-colored dental fillings and what to expect during your treatment

If you have received a dental filling in recent years, there is a good chance that it was a tooth-colored filling made from composite resin. While silver amalgam was the material of choice for dental fillings for many years in dentistry, composite resin has become a preferred option by many patients and dentists alike. At Shadowridge Dental Group, we offer patients in San Marcos areas, tooth-colored fillings because they offer many aesthetic and oral health benefits. Read on to learn more about composite fillings and how they can benefit your smile if you have a cavity.

When are fillings needed?

When a tooth has a cavity, it is important to remove the decayed portion of the tooth because it has become infiltrated by disease-causing bacteria that, if left untreated, will continue to eat away at the tooth. Eventually, this decay process can cause irreparable damage to the interior of the tooth and potentially even the underlying bone. However, when cavities are caught early through regular dental check-ups, they are simple and easy to treat! The process of getting a filling is composed of two main steps designed to restore the tooth back to health: first, the decayed area of the tooth is removed, and then, the tooth is filled with a material to restore the shape and function of the tooth and help prevent further decay and damage.

Advantages of using composite material

Metal amalgam was used for fillings for many decades because it was an affordable material and effective at filling a tooth after a cavity. However, modern dental advances have provided us with composite resin, a material that offers several advantages:

• Appearance: composite resin is tooth-colored, so your filling will blend in with the rest of your smile, and it will be less noticeable that you have had a filling
• Conservative: less of your natural tooth structure needs to be removed when placing a composite filling than an amalgam filling
• Less prone to breakage: metal amalgam expands and contracts at a more rapid rate than your natural teeth, which can lead to cracks and fractures when the tooth is exposed to hot or cold temperatures; conversely, the composite material has a similar expansion and contraction rate as natural teeth, making it a better option for long-lasting oral health
• Durability: Composite material bonds to the surface of the tooth better than amalgam, making it less prone to falling out over time and providing a better seal against bacteria and plaque infiltration

What to expect when getting a composite filling

At Shadowridge Dental Group, our focus is on restoring your oral health and ensuring that you have a positive dental experience. We use the latest dental anesthetics and methods to keep you comfortable throughout your treatment. When you come in for a filling, we will first numb the area being treated, so you are pain-free throughout the procedure. Then, we will gently remove the decayed area of the tooth and then place composite resin on the tooth layer-by-layer until a natural tooth shape is achieved. Finally, we will check your bite and make any minor adjustments needed, and you are free to return to your day.

To schedule your appointment at Shadowridge Dental Group in San Marcos, California, call us today at (760) 284-8111.