Tooth-Colored Fillings
How Do Durable Fillings Protect Your Teeth!?
Are your current silver fillings making you feel too self-conscious to smile? If you had fillings placed in the past 30 to 50 years, chances are your previous dentist used silver (amalgam) to fill your cavities. As a result, these fillings give off a grey sheen that’s very reflective, therefore affecting the way your smile appears. Luckily, there’s an alternative available at D. Michael Miller, DDS.
Composite resin fillings offer many advantages as a restorative treatment compared to traditional amalgam. They can restore your teeth, and help the dentist retain more of your existing tooth, all without compromising on longevity and durability. To get started improving the appearance and functionality of your fillings, contact our office today!
![happy woman smiling](https://www.dmichaelmillerdds.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/cosmetic-dentistry-1-6x6-1.jpg)
What Is Composite Resin?
Composite resin is a common dental material used in a wide variety of treatments, including dental bonding, veneers, and of course, fillings. It’s essentially a combination of plastic and glass that provides long-term protection from oral bacteria. It’s biocompatible, completely safe to use, and 100 percent metal-free. It can be shaded to match the same color as the rest of your teeth, allowing it to blend in naturally; no more reflective metal sheen in your smile.
Since composite resin does not use any metal components, it’s much easier to use when filling cavities. Here’s how the process works.
![happy smiling couple](https://www.dmichaelmillerdds.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/smiling-people-800-6x6-1.jpg)
What Does the Tooth Filling Procedure Entail?
The procedure for tooth-colored fillings is pretty straightforward. They only take one office visit to place and the process is entirely painless. To start, one of our dentists will examine the tooth in need of restoration, then numb the surrounding area with local anesthetic to prevent any discomfort during the procedure. Then, they’ll remove any damaged tissue or decayed tooth, clean the area, and place an enchant material to create a more porous surface for the composite resin to bond to.
Once placed and shaped properly, the dentist will use a special curing light to harden the material instantly. Now you can eat all the foods you want and smile without worry!
What Are the Benefits of Tooth-Colored Fillings?
Composite resin is an ideal material for filling cavities because it fills teeth more evenly and effectively than amalgam. Additionally, amalgam has the tendency to expand and contract more than composite resin, therefore acting as a wedge inside teeth that pushes them further apart over time.
Furthermore, composite resin allows dentists to preserve more natural teeth, as metal fillings usually require the removal of some enamel to place. Some people can’t even receive metal fillings because they have an allergy to metal or because they already have eroded enamel. This would only increase dental sensitivity, a sensation no patient enjoys.
When it comes to restorative dentistry, tooth-colored fillings are clearly the future. Contact any of our dentists at our Oak Hills, San Antonio dental office to learn more about the process, or get scheduled to replace your silver fillings today!