Materials matter: FAQs about tooth-colored composite resin fillings to repair cavities
By partnering with your friends at Park Avenue Dental Care in Homewood, Illinois, the pain and damage of tooth decay do not have to be in your future. However, should guidance on home care and other professional preventative dentistry services fall short of resolving damage, today’s tooth-colored (composite) fillings present a particularly conservative and aesthetic way to repair certain cavities that mar your smile’s appearance, comfort, and function.
When would I need a filling?
Cavities are caused by tooth decay. If decay is allowed to progress without treatment, it eats away at the hard tissues of the tooth. When the tooth is eroded, holes or cavities are left behind. The tooth is now weakened and vulnerable to future damage. Eventually, more restorative work will be necessary to build up and preserve it, or the tooth might be lost for good.
How do fillings repair teeth?
Fillings are a type of dental restoration or material shaped to replace deteriorated tooth structure and rebuild teeth. By placing the filling in the cavity, the hole or lost tissue is “filled in,” and the tooth is restored to its former strength, health, and appearance.
I don’t want the silver color in my mouth. What options do you offer?
Our dentists, Drs James Kreuz, Gregory Duffner, and Alexander J. Dolinar, have numerous durable, biocompatible, and dazzling materials to choose from for restorative dental work. For instance, composite resin presents a tooth-colored, natural-looking, and metal-free alternative to silver-hued amalgams for fillings. They blend in with the rest of the smile, can be placed in a conservative or tissue-preserving way, and are appropriate for many different types of patients – including those with sensitivities to or concerns about dental amalgams (metals).
How do you place composite resin fillings?
We must first ensure that your natural tooth is entirely free of decayed or damaged tissue. Then, the tooth is sterilized. The filling itself is then prepared to blend in with the color and other features of the rest of the tooth and neighboring teeth. Once the filling is ready to be placed, it is secured to the natural tooth using a special light. All of this can be done conveniently in a single appointment.
How do I care for my treated tooth?
Our team at Park Avenue Dental Care will work closely with you to keep your natural teeth and dental work in great shape and looking equally great. We advise on and demonstrate good brushing and flossing techniques and can provide guidance on everything from in-house services to boost your teeth (like dental sealants and fluoride) to tooth-friendly nutrition. With a blend of good home care and visits to our office in Homewood, IL, no additional treatment is needed to keep your tooth. Call us at (708) 792-2779 to schedule your smile-preserving checkup.
