Posted by If a tooth is slightly damaged, cracked, or chipped, a dentist will suggest having it repaired with a dental filling. These are materials that cover a fissure, crack, chip, or a small hole in an impacted tooth caused by plaque build-up and tooth decay. Depending on the severity of the damage in the tooth, a dentist may suggest either one of the two most common dental fillings being used today, taking aesthetics, function, and longevity into consideration.
For the exposed portion of a personss dentition, which includes the incisors and canines, as well as for the outer surface of the premolars and molars, a dentist will normally recommend composite dental fillings. These are dental fillings made of synthetic resins with different shades that closely resemble the color a person’s tooth. Composite resins can either be used as a dental adhesive, or a restorative material, depending on the dental procedure a patient requires.
Composite Dental Filling Advantages
Composite resins have numerous advantages compared to its “competitor,” gold or silver amalgam fillings. One main advantage of composite dental fillings is its color, since dental aesthetics is a major concern for most people. Composite resins are ideal dental fillings for visible tooth surfaces, unlike gold or silver amalgam fillings, which are very noticeable on the tooth’s surface. The dentist will choose the composite resin shade that is closest to the patient’s tooth color, so that the filling will be “invisible” once applied.
Aside from matching the natural tooth color, composite resins are good dental fillings because they are insensitive to dehydration, and easy to manipulate. In its starting form, composite resins are like clay that can be molded in different shapes and sizes. This makes them the perfect material for a wide variety of dental restorations, from tiny dental fillings, to bigger dental crowns and bridges. Composite resins can micro-mechanically bond to the toothâs surface, thus the strength and durability of the filling is guaranteed.
Another advantage of composite resins against gold or silver amalgam fillings, is the base material. Gold or silver amalgam fillings are technically metal-based. Aside from corrosion issues, they also expose the patient and the dentist to a high risk of heavy metal poisoning. Composite resins, on the other hand, are synthetic materials that are free of heavy metal toxins, and do not corrode at all. Amalgam fillings, although very durable, are difficult to repair, and the dentist might need to have a full amalgam filling replaced. Composite resins, on the other hand, can be easily repaired by simply adding additional composites.
Composite dental fillings are really a huge step towards advancement and development of modern Rockville dentistry. This perfect combination of aesthetics and restorative dentistry provides a strong, flexible, and reliable dental bonding agent, while giving a patient a natural-looking, and confidently beautiful smile.
