Tooth-Colored Fillings – Crete, NE
Amalgam or silver fillings have been used to repair tooth decay and fill cavities for a long time. Just how long? Almost 200 years. In 1819, an English chemist discovered that by adding mercury to the metals used in filling material, the substance became more pliable and could more easily be pressed into teeth. However, it wasn’t long before people became concerned about the mercury content and the possible harmful health side effects. Although the research is somewhat inconclusive as to whether or not the small amount of mercury in an amalgam filling could be unsafe, there is fortunately a viable alternative today. At Crete Family Dental, Dr. Andre Rossini uses tooth-colored fillings in Crete, NE to repair cavities.
Tooth-Colored Fillings for Your Attractive Smile
Tooth-colored fillings, also called white fillings, are made of composite resin material, which is a combination of medical grade plastics and glass. This material is not only strong and long lasting, but also completely biocompatible. You won’t have to worry about metal sensitivity or any possible health consequences. And because composite resin is so strong, this material is appropriate for both a front tooth that is used for biting or a molar used for grinding and chewing.
Of course, the best thing about tooth colored fillings from the patient’s perspective is that the material can be blended to perfectly match the existing color of your tooth. Only you and Dr. Rossini will ever know that you’ve had a cavity filled.
The Advantages of a Tooth-Colored Filling
Aside from the obvious aesthetic advantage, there are other benefits to a tooth-colored filling. When a metal filling is placed, the dentist must remove the decayed portion of a tooth as well as an additional amount in order to create a wedge within your tooth structure. The filling is then held in place by pressure. A tooth-colored filling, on the other hand, actually bonds with the remaining tooth structure. With this kind of filling, Dr. Rossini only needs to remove that portion of the tooth with decay; no additional tooth structure must be drilled away in order to hold the filling in place. And with more natural structure, a tooth is always stronger and stands a greater chance of lasting longer.
Furthermore, because there is a bond between the filling material and your tooth, the pressure of biting and chewing is evenly distributed over the entire structure of the tooth. In this way, there are less likely to be cracks or fractures in the tooth over time, and the chance of seepage underneath the filling is lessened, as well.