The good thing about modern dentistry is that it provides several ways to address specific oral health concerns, allowing all patients to receive the optimal treatment for their unique needs. For example, people who develop cavities (which are the most common dental health concern) can often choose a filling that blends in with their healthy, natural tooth structure. Known as tooth-colored fillings, the restorations can be customized to blend in with your tooth, and unlike older metal fillings, they can also provide several important benefits for the long-term health of your tooth.
Your tooth will keep its natural look
The appearance of a tooth-colored filling is one of the most immediate benefits that it provides. As soon as the filling is placed within your cavity, it blends in with the tooth’s healthy, natural structure, making it virtually indistinguishable from the rest of your tooth. Compared to metal fillings, which shine noticeably against your natural tooth structure, a tooth-colored one can provide a more cosmetically appealing solution to saving your tooth from tooth decay. For patients with cavities in more visible places in their smiles, this can help motivate seeking treatment faster, as they won’t have to worry about a metal filling affecting their smiles’ appearance.
The filling is completely biocompatible
The appearance of a tooth-colored filling is the product of the biocompatible materials that it’s made of. The biocompatible composite resin is a mixture of finely ground acrylic and quartz-like particles, which can be custom-tinted to your tooth’s unique color and shade. However, its appearance is only one of the benefits of composite resin; unlike older fillings, the resin contains no trace of any metals. For patients with metal allergies or who exhibit one or more other health conditions, the lack of metal makes tooth-colored fillings a much safer way of restoring their teeth.
The composite resin retains its shape
The lack of metal is a significant advantage to tooth-colored fillings in more ways than one. In addition to being safer for overall patient health, the resin in a tooth-colored filling also retains its shape long after it’s been hardened within your cavity. One of the common concerns with older metal fillings was the tendency for metal to change its shape over time. Inside of a tooth cavity, this tendency could cause a metal filling to damage the tooth, or to leave it exposed to a more serious tooth infection. By retaining its shape much longer and more successfully, a tooth-colored filling can significantly reduce the chances of your restoration failing.
Benefit from a tooth-colored filling
Tooth-colored fillings can provide a lot more benefits to your cavity-stricken tooth than you might realize. To learn more, schedule an appointment with us by calling Dreem Dentistry in Leawood, KS, today at 913-681-5500.
