Conservative and Tooth-like Composite Fillings Restore the Health and Appearance of Damaged Teeth
Untreated cavities and minor fractures can progress over time if left untreated. The consequences? Unaddressed cavities become large holes that penetrate your tooth pulp, causing infection. If your infected tooth isn’t treated with a root canal, it eventually dies off!
Don’t let cavities grow and become hard to treat. Instead, talk to Mint Dental in Meridian, Idaho, about composite fillings. These tooth-colored restorations blend perfectly with your tooth structure to provide optimal protection against future bacteria attacks.
Composite fillings treatment: A quick fix for cavities and tooth decay
The procedure for white fillings is painless and quick, taking about an hour. The process starts with inspecting your teeth to determine whether a filling is the best restorative procedure. If yes, we administer local anesthesia to minimize discomfort — surface cavities don’t need local anesthetics.
Once comfortable, we drill out the decayed part and clean your tooth thoroughly to eliminate harmful bacteria. Next, we fill the “cavity hole” in layers using composite resin — a mixture of fine glass particles and liquid resin. We then harden each layer with a curing light before shaping your tooth until the bite feels natural. Finally, we polish your tooth for a natural-looking appearance.
You can resume your everyday activities after cavity treatment. You must only avoid eating or chewing for about two hours until the anesthesia wears off. Otherwise, you can bite or harm your tongue and cheeks.
Benefits of white fillings
Metal (amalgam) fillings traditionally were the go-to restorations for cavities and minor tooth decay. Amalgam restorations did the job but left many people with discolored teeth because of the wedging effect of the metal. Additionally, metal expands and contracts as temperatures change. So, when taking cold and hot drinks, metal restorations change in size, which cracks your tooth over time.
Because of the shortcoming of metal fillings, most dentists have switched to composite fillings. White fillings offer many benefits, including:
- Conservative: We only remove a small portion of your tooth when installing composite fillings. Leaving your healthy structure intact ensures your tooth remains strong and stable for many years.
- Natural-looking: Tooth-colored fillings can be shaded to resemble the shade of the surrounding teeth for undetectable results.
- Safety: Unlike metal fillings, composite restorations don’t change in size when temperatures change. Similarly, white fillings don’t contain mercury, making them a safer option.
- Better protection: Composite resin bonds with your tooth at a microscopic level. Optimal bonding seals your tooth completely from harmful bacteria.
Want to treat your cavities without compromising your smile? Please dial (208) 900-4669 to talk to Mint Dental about composite fillings. Dr. Kevin Pulsipher and the team install tooth-colored fillings that offer superior protection and blend seamlessly with your smile.
FAQs
Dr. Kevin Pulsipher describes tooth-colored dental fillings, also referred to by our team as composite resin fillings, as a type of dental restoration designed to complement the appearance of your natural teeth. They are made of a resin-based composite that provides good durability and resilience and is highly recommended by Dr. Kevin Pulsipher of Mint Dental.
The lifespan of a tooth-colored filling can vary depending on the individual’s oral hygiene and dietary habits. However, on average, they last 5-10 years with regular evaluations and cleanings at Mint Dental.
Tooth-colored fillings are safe. They are made of a composite resin that has been thoroughly tested for biocompatibility and safety and are highly desirable over alternative materials such as silver amalgam, which is still used by some dentists today.
Your tooth-colored fillings won’t require special care beyond good oral hygiene practices. This includes regular brushing, flossing, and routine dental evaluations with Dr. Kevin Pulsipher.
Tooth-colored fillings can be used to replace old metal or silver amalgam fillings. This is often done for aesthetics or if the old filling is damaged or worn out. Silver amalgam fillings are harmful to the human body, so removal and replacement will always be recommended by our staff at Mint Dental.
