Effectively Address Decay with Dental Fillings
If you are struggling with dental decay, a composite filling can restore the structure of your tooth and protect the health of your smile. When plaque and tartar build up on the surface of teeth, the enamel begins to erode, forming a cavity. If left unaddressed, cavities can penetrate into the deeper layers of the tooth and affect the supportive tissues and bone. Repairing teeth with dental fillings can help you avoid more extensive restorative procedures in the future. At Harrison Dental Group in Fort Wayne, IN, our doctors use composite resin during treatment, which is shade-matched to blend with the sheen and translucency of your natural teeth.
What Are Dental Fillings?
A dental filling is a restorative treatment used to repair a tooth compromised by decay or damage. Fillings are appropriate for mild to moderate cases. For your convenience, we also offer the advanced Icon® Method to treat early stages of decay using a special fortifying gel.
Traditionally, fillings were composed of silver amalgam, a metal alloy containing silver, mercury, tin, and copper. As treatment has advanced, materials such as composite resin have been integrated into the procedure. This material is a plastic and glass mixture that offers more strength than silver amalgam as well as more natural-looking results.
The Procedure
Treatment can typically be completed in just one office visit. Although most patients do not require more than a local anesthetic, those who struggle with dental anxiety or phobia may opt for additional sedation. Once you are comfortable, your doctor can gently remove decayed tissue and thoroughly clean the area to prevent future infection.
Composite resin is discreet and virtually indistinguishable from your natural teeth.
Using a shade-guide, we can tint the composite resin to match the enamel of your tooth. Once your doctor is satisfied with the color, he can carefully apply it in layers. A special light will cure, or harden the material in place. At the time, your doctor can trim away any excess resin to ensure it does not disrupt your occlusion. If no modifications are needed, he can clean and polish your tooth to add the finishing touches.
Benefits of Tooth-Colored Fillings
As compared to amalgam fillings, tooth-colored material provides several advantages. Resin offers:
- Realistic results: Silver fillings are noticeable when you smile or laugh. Composite resin is discreet and virtually indistinguishable from your natural teeth.
- Better structural support: Composite resin does not expand with hot or cold temperatures, which is the case with silver amalgam. Over time, this can compromise the integrity of the tooth.
- Less enamel removal: Silver amalgam fillings require more enamel removal to prepare the tooth, leaving it prone to cracks or damage.
- Less dental sensitivity: After treatment, you can enjoy restored function almost immediately. Patients with silver amalgam more often experience sensitivity after treatment.
Fillings offer a more conservative approach to addressing decay than inlays, onlays, and dental crowns. Our team can carefully evaluate your unique oral health needs before determining whether this treatment is right for you.
Schedule Your Consultation
Treating a cavity in a timely fashion can eliminate discomfort and sensitivity, as well as protect the overall health of your smile. At our practice, we offer the Icon® method, which enables us to effectively address cavities without a drill, when detected in their earliest stages. To learn more about the restorative services we provide at Harrison Dental Group, or to schedule your consultation, please contact our office today online. You may also call our Getz Rd. office at (260) 432-3588 or our Winchester office at (260) 747-4747.
