Composites are brilliant dental filling materials used commonly in our practice to restore damaged or decayed teeth. In essence, they are durable, versatile, light-cured fillings that are also called tooth-colored fillings. At Ygnacio Dental in Walnut Creek, CA, composite fillings are the most common restoration. Our goal is to reinstate our patient’s teeth to their natural form as closely as possible.
What Is a Composite Filling?
A composite filling is a tooth-colored material composed of glass and plastic that is used to repair decayed teeth. Composites can also augment the aesthetics of a smile by changing the color of the teeth or reshaping an impaired tooth.
The benefits of composite fillings include:
- They are metal-free
- They closely resemble your natural teeth
- They can quickly bond to a tooth
- They are versatile and can be used to correct several tooth imperfections
- They last long
How Is a Composite Filling Placed?
The placement of composite or tooth-colored fillings is very much similar to the traditional filling. First, the affected tooth will be meticulously cleaned and then numbed to remove any bacterial debris and rotten parts of the teeth. Once it has been cleaned, a space on the tooth will be made to allow for the placement of the composite filling. The composite is then smeared in layers, using a curing light to harden the material after each application. The filling is then sculpted and polished to match the original shape and size of the affected tooth.
What Are the Advantages of Composite Fillings?
Traditional fillings are accomplished using an amalgam of metals, which are easily noticeable in the mouth, to repair cavities. With composite fillings, your restorations are more discreet since they are color shaded to match your existing natural teeth. This is especially vital when front teeth are being restored. Unlike metal fillings that just fill the cleaned-out cavity, the composite material chemically bonds to the tooth material, providing more structural support to the tooth. Besides, composites have greater flexibility as they can be used to fill decay and repair broken, chipped, or worn teeth.
Characteristically, a much smaller section of the tooth structure has to be removed to lodge composite fillings than with amalgam fillings, leading to a more conventional approach towards tooth restoration. Additionally, metal fillings are bound to contract and expand due to temperature variations in the oral cavity, leading to leakage of bacteria around these fillings over time.
If you are looking to fix dental cavities or fix your worn-out teeth with composite fillings, visit Ygnacio Dental at 1766 Lacassie Ave # 101, Walnut Creek, CA 945961, or call us at (925) 280-2848 and schedule an appointment.