What Makes a Tooth-Colored Filling Better?

At some point in your life, you may have to deal with a cavity (the result of tooth decay). In fact, more than 90% of people develop tooth decay to some degree, though at our Newhall, CA, dental office, they can often treat their cavities with discreet, conservative tooth fillings. Made from biocompatible resin, a tooth-colored filling is designed to blend with your tooth, making it much less noticeable than a traditional metal one. Yet, its lifelike and more cosmetically pleasing appearance is only one of several important advantages that make tooth-colored fillings better than their metal alternatives.

Why you have to fill a cavity

The most important benefit of tooth-colored fillings is that they perform the job of a filling more effectively than metal amalgam can. That job is to fill a cavity after your dentist has cleaned away the infected tooth structure, and to restore the tooth’s health, strength, and integrity. That requires a material that can not only be bonded to your tooth structure securely, but also doesn’t cause harm to your healthy tooth structure. Unlike metal amalgam, tooth-colored composite resin retains its shape longer after it’s been placed, so it won’t damage your tooth or leave it exposed to more severe infection.

Composite resin vs. traditional metal

The secret to a tooth-colored filling’s success is the innovative, biocompatible material that it’s made of. Created out of finely ground, BPA-free acrylic and quartz-like particles, the resin is most notable for the fact that it can be custom-tinted to match your tooth’s natural, healthy color and appearance. By contrast, metal cannot be tinted and will always maintain its metallic shine long after it has been placed in your tooth. By comparison, tooth-colored resin will retain its lifelike appearance, helping you improve your tooth and your smile’s cosmetic appearance at the same time.

Upgrading your current tooth filling

If you have a recent cavity, then choosing to fill it with tooth-colored filling could be the best option for restoring your tooth. However, if you’ve already had a metal filling placed in an older cavity, then you may still qualify for upgrading it to a more discreet and biocompatible resin restoration. We can thoroughly examine your tooth and oral to ensure that the cavity hasn’t grown larger and that the decay has not grown more severe. Then, we can remove your metal filling, taking care not to cause any harm to the healthy tooth structure around it. Because composite resin conforms precisely to the shape of any cavity, it can effectively replace your metal filling without any significant alterations to your tooth.

Find out if a tooth-colored filling is best

Treating a cavity is a routine part of professional dentistry, and with a tooth-colored filling, we can treat yours comfortably and discreetly. For more information, schedule a consultation by calling Newhall Dental Arts in Newhall, CA, today at (661) 259-7760.