Filling a cavity is often the best way to treat and preserve a tooth inflicted with tooth decay—an internal infection caused by oral bacteria. Decay occurs when the enamel around your teeth is dissolved by bacteria-produced acid, and since teeth can’t heal themselves, cleaning and filling the cavity is necessary to restore the tooth’s strength. Until recently, fillings were mostly made from metal amalgam, a mixture of silver, tin, mercury and other metals (often called silver fillings for their metallic appearance). Now, you can restore your dental health with a tooth filling that doesn’t make much of an appearance by choosing composite resin instead of metal.
Why Choose Composite Resin?
Composite resin, like amalgam, is a combination of different materials, though they’re plastic rather than metal. The plastic, or acrylic, resin can be tinted to match your tooth’s color, offering the most conspicuous benefit—the ability to blend in with your tooth structure. Because of their discreet nature, tooth-colored fillings allow you to continue to smile with confidence, knowing that your tooth won’t give away the fact that it was once riddled with decay.
Additional Benefits of Tooth-Colored Fillings
Another significant advantage of tooth-colored fillings is that resin can be more securely bonded to the inside structure of your tooth. While metal fillings are also secured with a bonding material, they don’t adhere as strongly to your tooth as composite resin fillings. This bonding ability makes resin a better seal against harmful, always-present oral bacteria that could reinfect the tooth if the filling fails.
ABOUT YOUR NORTH RICHLAND HILLS DENTIST:
With over 25 years of professional experience, Dr. Steven M. Huffstutler and his caring team proudly provide exceptional preventive, cosmetic, and restorative dental treatment to patients and their families across Dallas/Ft. Worth, including North Richland Hills, Denton, the Mid-cities, Southlake, and all surrounding communities. We also have extensive experience helping patients find relief from painful TMJ disorders (various forms of jaw dysfunction). To schedule an appointment with Dr. Huffstutler, contact our office today by calling 817-918-3038.