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At
some point or other in ours lives, most of us wind up with a cavity. In
most cases, a cavity calls for your dentist to remove the decay and to
fill in the tooth area that was removed. There have been a number of
advances in the field over the past few years, so if you're one of the
lucky ones and haven't had a cavity in a while, you should read up on
what is available today so that you understand the choices available to
you.
What are composite
resin fillings?
Most of us have had
amalgam fillings (silver) or gold filling restorations. Some amalgam
fillings were what we have called mercury fillings, as some amalgam
fillings contained mercury. Metal fillings were effective, but very
conspicuous and tended to blacken in color over time.
Composite resin
dental fillings were created as an alternative to traditional metal
dental fillings.Tooth fillings colored to look like a natural tooth are
known as Composite Resin Dental Fillings,are made of a plastic dental
resin. Composite Resin Dental Fillings are strong, durable, and make for
a very natural looking smile. Many dental insurance plans cover their
use.
Who is a candidate
for composite resin fillings?
If you have a cavity
in a tooth, broken fillings, mercury fillings, or amalgam fillings, this
type of dental filling is well worth discussing with your dentist.
Mercury fillings or amalgam fillings can easily be removed and replaced
with far more attractive colored fillings. These fillings actually
strengthen your tooth beyond the level it had with the amalgam fillings.
Composite resins may
also be used to enhance the appearance of any tooth, which is a tooth
bonding procedure. The composite resin will strengthen and enhance the
natural tooth structure as it does with use as a dental filling.
Composite Resin Fillings
How are composite
resin fillings different from amalgam fillings?
Composite resin
dental fillings were created as an alternative to traditional metal
dental fillings.Tooth fillings colored to look like a natural tooth are
known as Composite Resin Dental Fillings,are made of a plastic dental
resin. Composite Resin Dental Fillings are strong, durable, and make for
a very natural looking smile. Many dental insurance plans cover their
use.
How are composite
resin fillings accomplished?
Your dentist will
give you a local anesthetic to numb the area. The dentist then prepares
an access to the decayed area of the tooth and removes the decayed
portions. This is accomplished with traditional drills, micro air
abrasion or even with a dental laser. With a composite filling, your
dentist will preserve more of the natural tooth as the composite resin
can be bonded to the tooth in thin layers. If your tooth's decayed area
is close to a nerve, a special liner will be used to protect the nerve.
A special dental
material is then used to open up the pores of your tooth's dentin and
roughens up the surface of the exposed enamel. This achieves better and
stronger bond. The bond resin is applied to stick the composite to your
tooth. This material is made of the same dental resin as the composite
however it is much more fluid. This layer is then hardened and cured
with a very bright light.
Composite resin
fillings are applied in thin layers, and slowly built up to form the
complete filling. A bright dental light will harden each layer before
the next is applied.
Once your filling is
completed, your dentist will use a special paper, articulating paper, to
adjust the height of your dental filling and that your bite remains
correct. Your tooth is then polished.
If such a filling is
not going to be enough to protect your damaged tooth, or if your tooth
enamel is thin and will easily fracture, or if your tooth has had a root
canal that weakened your tooth condition, your tooth may require
additional protection such as a crown.
Types of Dental
Fillings
Composite
Resin Fillings
There are no known
health risks of receiving composite fillings. Composite resin dental
fillings were created as an alternative to traditional metal dental
fillings. Tooth fillings colored to look like a natural tooth are known
as Composite Resin Dental Fillings, are made of a plastic dental resin.
Composite Resin Dental Fillings are strong, durable, and make for a very
natural looking smile. Many dental insurance plans cover their use.
Amalgam
Fillings
Amalgam fillings may
contain mercury, and are often referred to as metal fillings. Their
safety has been in question for a number of years due to concerns over
the absorption of elemental mercury contributing to several diseases,
including Alzheimer's, multiple sclerosis, dementia and arthritis. The
FDA investigations have not proven that the minute amount of mercury
vapors released from silver fillings is a health hazard. Amalgam
fillings are a mixture of mercury liquid and small pieces of silver and
other metals such as copper, tin and zinc.
Inlays and
Onlays
If
over half of your molar tooth's biting surface is decayed an inlay or
onlay may be a better option than a filling. These options are basically
for when more than a filling is needed but less than a crown will do. An
inlay is placed in between the cusps of the tooth, whereas an only will
cover one or more of the cusps. They can be made of a gold alloy,
porcelain or tooth-colored resin and are cemented into place.
Advantages &
Disadvantages of Composite Resin Fillings
Pros and Cons of a
composite resin fillings
Advantages:
The composite of
composite resin fillings bonds to further support the remaining tooth
structure, which helps prevent breakage and damage to your tooth. They
certainly look better, and are color blended to match your natural tooth
color. These fillings are often used to improve the appearance of
misshapen, chipped or discolored teeth.
Composite resin
fillings last about six to twelve years or more, and the procedure
usually takes just one visit to your dentist. There is very little
sensitivity to hot or cold items often experienced with amalgam fillings.
The dentist won't need to drill as much of the tooth structure as with
amalgam fillings.
Disadvantages:
Composite resin
fillings require more time to apply than amalgam fillings. This results
in an increased cost for placing composite fillings.
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