Tooth-Colored Fillings – New Bedford, MA
The Discreet and Effective Way to Treat Cavities
Up until the 1960s, dentists used a combination of liquid metals to fill cavities and protect teeth from further decay. Not only did these amalgam fillings draw attention to patients’ damaged teeth, but they were also a risky dental treatment. With advancements in technology and techniques, tooth-colored fillings quickly became dentist’s preferred way to save damaged teeth and protect them from further decay. At Clear Coast Dental, we’re able to restore the strength, size, and structure of decayed teeth without causing our patients any concern about their health. We also refuse to let a small cavity ruin the appearance of your smile!
Why Choose Clear Coast Dental For Tooth-Colored Fillings?
- We Focus on Patient Comfort
- Skilled & Experienced Team of Professionals
- Advanced Dental Technology
What are Tooth-Colored Fillings?
Amalgam fillings were originally used in the 1800s up until the late 1900s to treat cavities. They were made from a mixture of metals containing mercury, silver, tin, and copper, which made them stand out in a row of pearly whites. The modern dental world has adopted a safer and more aesthetically pleasing treatment option, known as tooth-colored fillings. They’re made from a composite resin composed of fine particles of glass and acrylic. Because the material is biocompatible, it forms an easy and strong bond with natural teeth. The resin can also be custom color-matched to the rest of your teeth so it doesn’t stand out when you laugh or speak.
Benefits of Tooth-Colored Fillings
The most obvious benefit that attracts patients and dentists to tooth-colored fillings is that they’re practically unnoticeable and blend in with your damaged tooth. This treatment has more to offer than that. Fillings made from biocompatible composite resin also:
- Preserve Your Natural Tooth Structure. Because the materials in amalgam fillings aren’t biocompatible, more of your natural tooth structure has to be removed in order for it to be securely placed. With composite resin, less of your natural tooth needs to be prepared because the material has a strong bond with enamel.
- Make Your Teeth Less Sensitive to Extreme Temperatures. Composite resin’s strong bond protects more of the nerves and sensitive parts of your inner tooth. That way, you won’t have to feel uncomfortable irritation when eating or drinking items that are hot, cold, or sour.
- Offer the Best Protection Against Decay. Another benefit of the strong bond between natural tooth enamel and composite resin is that harmful oral bacteria are less likely to penetrate the damaged tooth and cause infections.
Placing the Filling
When you visit your dentist at Clear Coast Dental for a routine checkup and cleaning, you may learn that you have a cavity. We’ll do our best to ensure that you’re not sitting in the treatment chair for too long, and to make the process completely painless. If your tooth has suffered extensive decay, we’ll numb the area before we remove any debris and sanitize it.
Caring for Filled Teeth
Once your tooth is filled, you won’t need to worry about lingering cavities turning into infections as long as you continue to take care of your teeth and gums. The best way to do this is remain diligent about brushing and flossing every day to remove plaque, food debris, and harmful oral bacteria. Also, be sure to visit our office in New Bedford to schedule your semi-annual checkups and cleanings. Some other ways you can keep your teeth healthy include:
- Rinsing with antibacterial mouth wash every day.
- Being aware of your consumption of sugars and carbohydrates.
- Staying hydrated with water.
If you notice that your tooth becomes extremely sensitive or begins to ache, be sure to contact our office as soon as possible. We offer emergency dental services that can ease your discomfort and fix the issue to prevent any additional damage.
