Dental fillings are dental restorations designed to treat decayed teeth, which occur when foods containing sugars and starches are left on the tooth. When starches and sugars come into contact with plaque, the bacteria in your mouth produce an acid that breaks down your enamel. Once this happens, bacteria can attack the tooth and cause a cavity. When a filling is used, it will prevent new decay from forming, repair any damage to the tooth previously caused by decay, and strengthen the damaged tooth.
What Do Dental Fillings Address?
As you likely know, dental fillings address cavities. A cavity develops when sticky plaque coats a tooth and causes it to weaken. The plaque produces acids that eat away at the enamel. Once a cavity develops, it will continue to spread until the tooth is severely weakened. At this point, a filling is necessary to protect the tooth.
What Are Tooth-colored Fillings?
Composite fillings, also known as tooth-colored fillings, are most commonly used to treat teeth that have minor decay or damage. Composite fillings are a mixture of glass or quartz filler in a resin medium that produces a tooth-colored restoration. They are used to restore decayed teeth, replace old fillings, or treat broken teeth. Composite fillings provide good durability and resistance to fracture in small-to-medium-sized fillings that need to withstand moderate pressure from chewing.
How Are Tooth-colored Fillings Placed?
During your dental appointment, our Central dentist will numb the tooth and the surrounding area, then remove any decayed portion of the enamel. In certain cases, a drill will be used to remove the decay.
Then an acidic gel is used on the tooth to create a rough surface, which will make it easier for the filling to bond to the tooth. A bonding agent is applied to the surface of the tooth, and the composite filling material is carefully inserted into the cavity and molded to the tooth. Finally, the bonded filling is smoothed and polished for a good fit.
Benefits
Tooth-colored fillings are made of a durable material and do not contain any metals or mercury, unlike other dental restorations. Since they do not contain any metal, they will not result in any “cold” or “hot” sensitivity you may experience with other types of dental restorations. Tooth-colored fillings are a common, low-stress, and non-invasive procedure. They require minimal preparation, and they can often be completed in just one appointment.
How Long Do Tooth-colored Fillings Last?
Tooth-colored fillings also last longer than amalgam fillings. When properly taken care of, tooth-colored fillings can last as long as 10 to 15 years.
At Greenwell Springs Family Dentistry, we offer high-quality dental care using state-of-the-art dental technologies. To learn more about our dental services, call Dentist Greenwell Springs, LA at (225) 261-0043 or visit our dental office located at 14127 Greenwell Springs Road, Central, LA 70739.