If you had a cavity as a child, chances are you received what is known as an amalgam filling. These were used for more than a century, and are easily recognized as the silver fillings that still show up in the smiles of many adults today.
However, we can now offer a nearly invisible filling option called a composite filling, which has made many of our patients at Dental Care of Plano much happier with their smiles.
What is Composite Filling?
Composite resin is a pliable material that comes in colors that match the natural shades of teeth. Dentists can use this material to fill in a cavity, and then allow it to set under a special light and harden. Once done, this material is every bit as protective as amalgam fillings, keeping further decay at bay.
Tooth colored fillings are not only easier on the eye, but they are also stronger as well. Many amalgam fillings disappear after a few decades, coming loose from the tooth because they weren’t really bonded in any way. Tooth colored fillings are molded around your tooth, and then bonded to it during the curing process. This means you can expect your filling to last longer, stand up to chewing better, and cost you less in the long run.
Who is a Good Candidate for Tooth Colored Fillings?
If you have any sort of decay or cavities in your smile, you are likely a candidate for this treatment. Just as with amalgam fillings, composite is a material used to stop unhealthy decay, so you don’t have to have perfect oral health to receive the treatment. For some larger cavities, this type of filling may have to be done in multiple layers, with each layer being cured on its own.
To find out more, schedule your appointment with Dental Care of Plano today!
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