Dental Filling
Top 4 Benefits of Composite Fillings vs. Regular Dental Fillings
Completely Natural Appearance
During your consultation at our dental office in Nashville, TN, we'll carefully match the composite material to the shade of your surrounding teeth. Consequently, while amalgam fillings often stand out against the brightness of your teeth, composite fillings blend in seamlessly with your smile.
Long-Lasting & Durable
With proper care, good oral hygiene, and regular visits to the dentist, tooth-colored dental fillings can last for many years. If you grind your teeth, our dentists can provide you with an oral appliance to protect your dental filling.
Simple & Secure Bonding Process
Our Nashville dental practice uses the latest technology when placing dental fillings. While amalgam fillings need a few hours to set before you eat, tooth-colored fillings are ready for immediate use.Improved Oral Health
Like traditional restorations, these fillings are an effective preventive measure against further decay and allow patients to chew comfortably again.
Here's how tooth-colored dental fillings are typically placed...
Have you just been diagnosed with a cavity?
Don't Be Ashamed, Mostly Everyone Has Had a Cavity
More Information About Composite Fillings
Tooth-colored dental fillings not only restore teeth affected by cavities, but the restorations also blend beautifully with your smile. Our doctors can place composite resin fillings to prevent further decay and restore strength to your tooth at our Nashville, TN, dental office. Since cavities and bacterial decay can build up and damage your healthy surrounding teeth, we provide thorough screening during each exam and cleaning.
Who Can Benefit From Tooth-Colored Fillings?
Composite resin fillings may be right for you if you suffer from:
- Mild to moderate decay
- Mild chips, cracks, or wear and tear, especially on front teeth
- Worn out fillings or amalgam restorations that need replacement
For more extensive decay, inlays, onlays, or dental crowns may be more appropriate. If caught at an early stage, however, the effects of decay can be corrected with this simple and convenient solution. Furthermore, composite fillings can also be used to replace worn out restorations or amalgam fillings that contain mercury.
The Procedure
The process of receiving a tooth-colored filling is relatively quick and simple. First, your dentist will determine the source of the problem with a thorough examination of your teeth, conducting both a visual exam in addition to taking x-rays. If he finds decayed tissue, he will first numb the tooth and clear the area of all bacteria. When the site is clean, he can determine whether a composite filling will provide sufficient protection or if you need a different type of treatment.
For the right patients, tooth-colored fillings offer a simple and convenient restorative solution.
The tooth-colored composite material is applied layer by layer, and your dentist will harden each one with a curing light. When this process is complete, he contours the restoration so that it feels natural and comfortable. The last step is to smooth and polish the filling and make sure your bite is not affected in any way.
Maintaining Your Restoration
Taking care of your filling and being alert to any changes is important for its preservation. You should brush twice a day and floss your teeth daily, and it is important to follow up with your dentist for routine check-ups and cleanings. Avoiding candies and other hard foods is also a good way to maintain your filling and keep all your teeth healthy. If you notice any pain, sharp edges, instability, or broken pieces, contact your dentist.
Safe Amalgam Filling Removal
To minimize our patients' exposure to mercury during the removal of an amalgam filling, our Nashville practice refers out to other offices that have specialized ventilation systems. When an amalgam filling is removed, it first has to be heated. This process can release mercury vapor, which warrants special equipment to filter the air and keep you safe from any mercury particles in the atmosphere.
