The fact that cavities are common isn’t as much of a threat thanks to advanced dental treatments, such as custom tooth fillings. In fact, the practice of filling a tooth’s cavity to save it from tooth decay has long been a go-to solution for patients with cavities. Today, however, the process is much more advanced, and over the last several years, the materials often used to create them have also evolved. Instead of the metal fillings that patients have often come to expect, for example, we can often provide more discreet and natural-looking ones made from advanced composite resin.
The resin is safer than metal
Composite resin is a biocompatible material that’s made from finely ground acrylic and quartz-like particles. Unlike more traditional fillings, they contain no traces of metal, which makes them safer for patients in a wide variety of ways. For example, patients with metal allergies now have an option for treating their cavities immediately, as women who are pregnant, the elderly, and the very young. Because of the unique properties of composite resin compared to metal, tooth-colored fillings can also be customized to match the appearance of the teeth they restore – a characteristic that’s impossible to achieve with metal fillings.
Tooth-colored means highly discreet
While metal-free fillings are safer, one of the more noticeable benefits is that they’re highly discreet. Blending in with the natural tooth structure around them means that resin fillings won’t be noticeable when you speak and smile. For patients who are highly conscious of their smiles’ appearance, metal fillings can pose a conundrum; treating a cavity is important, but the metal of traditional fillings can shine noticeably. The fact that resin fillings are more discreet means more people who experience cavities will be motivated to treat and restore their teeth without hesitation.
Resin fillings protect teeth better
The point of a filling isn’t just to fill in the space within your cavity. The procedure also involves carefully cleaning away the harmful oral bacteria that caused the infection, and any remaining infected tooth structure. Once the filling is placed, it will have to repel harmful oral bacteria from the exposed healthy structure, and resin fillings can often do this better than traditional metal ones. This is due to the fact that composite resin can bond more securely to your tooth’s natural structure, and it doesn’t change shape when exposed to heat or cold, as metal can.
Learn if you can benefit from a tooth-colored filling
Tooth-colored fillings are becoming a more popular treatment for cavities than metal ones, and there are several important reasons why. To learn more, schedule an appointment with us by calling Dreem Dentistry in Leawood, KS, today at 913-681-5500. We also serve patients who live in Overland Park and all surrounding communities.
