Tooth-Colored Fillings – Midlothian, TX
Invisibly Repairing Your Cavities
Getting a filling to treat your cavity might not be the most exciting activity in the world, but it’s necessary if you want to prevent the decay from spreading and wreaking havoc on your oral health. In the past, your only option to fill your cavity was to use an amalgam of various metals, such as tin and silver. This left a noticeable, unattractive gray mark on your tooth, letting everyone know that you once had a cavity in that spot. Luckily, here at Legacy Dental, we use tooth-colored fillings to repair your cavities without drawing attention to them. Contact your dentist in Midlothian to learn more.
Why Choose Legacy Dentistry for Tooth-Colored Fillings?
- Faith-Based, Holistic Dentistry
- Blends in with Your Natural Smile
- Can Last a Decade with Proper Care
What Are Tooth-Colored Fillings?
Instead of filling your cavity with an obvious metal, tooth-colored fillings utilize a substance called composite resin, which is made of ultra-fine particles of plastic and glass. The great thing about this material is that it can be shaded to blend in with the rest of your enamel. It won’t stick out in your smile. Additionally, it forms a direct bond with your tooth, making it more beneficial for your oral health in the long run.
What Is the Treatment Process Like?
Once we’ve detected a cavity in your mouth that needs treatment, the first step in the process will be numbing your mouth to maximize your comfort throughout the procedure. Either Dr. Nguyen or Dr. DeSimone will administer a local anesthetic to ensure you won’t feel any pain during the treatment. Your tooth is then sanitized, and the decayed portions are removed. We’ll select the shade of composite resin that most closely resembles the color of your natural tooth and apply it, layer by layer, until your tooth is built up to the ideal size and shape. An ultraviolet curing light is used to harden the material into place. Lastly, we’ll polish the tooth, make sure it fits within your bite, and send you on your way!
Benefits of Tooth-Colored Fillings Compared to Metal Fillings
The composite resin that is used to create tooth-colored fillings is incredibly biocompatible, allowing it to bond to your natural tooth structure quite effectively. Because of this, tooth-colored fillings are able to offer the following benefits:
- Natural-looking results. Composite resin can be shaded to match the exact color of your enamel, enabling it to seamlessly blend into your smile.
- More conservative treatment. Metal fillings required that more enamel be removed in order to make room for the filling to fit. Instead, tooth-colored fillings bond directly to the tooth, necessitating little enamel removal and allowing you to retain more of your natural tooth structure for much longer.
- Less sensitivity. The tight bond formed between the resin and the tooth blocks the tooth’s nerves from experiencing sensitivity from hot or cold foods and beverages. Metal fillings don’t adequately shield those nerves, resulting in greater discomfort.