Tooth-colored Fillings
Brian Bell, DDS, provides tooth-colored fillings to his patients in Lake Jackson, TX. Dental fillings are traditionally made of silver amalgam, but modern dentistry is embracing tooth-colored resin for its superior aesthetics and other benefits. If you are suffering with symptoms of a cavity, or have been diagnosed with tooth decay, Dr. Bell can provide a tooth-colored filling to restore both the health and appearance of your smile. To schedule a consultation, please contact our practice today.
Placing Tooth-colored Fillings
Dr. Bell will first examine your tooth, taking x-rays to assess the extent of decay. Before treating the cavity, Dr. Bell will select a shade of resin matched to your tooth.
Next, Dr. Bell will numb the tooth and gently remove the decayed tissue. The area is then thoroughly cleaned and disinfected, removing any bacteria and debris. The composite material is then applied in layers, and solidified with a special light. Once the cavity has been filled, he will polish the resin to achieve a smooth and natural-looking surface.
Metal-free Dentistry
One of the most prominent benefits of tooth-colored fillings is that they provide natural-looking results. However, they provide many other important benefits that make them an increasingly popular solution among dentists and patients alike.
Metal amalgam will expand and contract with temperature changes. This can occur when taking a sip of coffee or inhaling a breath of cold air. Over time, these fluctuations can cause small fractures in the tooth that eventually result in significant damage. Fluctuations in metal fillings can also allow bacteria to accumulate in hard-to-reach areas, resulting in further decay. Tooth-colored fillings, on the other hand, experience virtually no fluctuation.
Modern dentistry makes it possible to recover from most oral health issues without sacrificing the aesthetics of your smile, or your self-confidence.
Tooth-colored resin requires less removal of healthy tissue, and also achieves a much more secure bond with dental tissue than silver amalgam. Meanwhile, silver amalgam contains trace amounts of mercury, a toxic element. It is important to understand that there is no available evidence that establishes the link between the mercury in silver amalgam fillings and adverse effects in the general population of patients. Nevertheless, many patients find that they are far more comfortable with fillings that do not contain mercury.
Patients with a metal allergy can also find a far more compatible solution in tooth-colored fillings.
Candidacy
Dental fillings are best suited for small to moderate cavities. If you are experiencing more advanced decay in a molar, an inlay or onlay may be recommended. Sometimes called partial crowns, these restorations can replace large portions of a chewing surface. If you are experiencing tooth decay that has reached the pulp (the soft tissue inside the tooth), you may require a root canal procedure followed by the placement of dental crown. During your consultation, Dr. Bell will recommend the right course of treatment for your needs.
Learn More
Modern dentistry makes it possible to recover from most oral health issues without sacrificing the aesthetics of your smile, or your self-confidence. To learn more about the many advantages of tooth-colored fillings, and how they can help you experience renewed health and a natural-looking smile, please contact our office today and schedule a consultation.
