Tooth-Colored Fillings
Preventive dental exams and cleanings help you avoid the discomfort of problems like cavities and the cost of treating them. Tooth decay is highly preventable but still occurs, and statistics show nearly 90 percent of us will develop it at some point in our lives.
Fortunately, tooth decay is typically easy to treat with a simple dental filling when we catch it soon enough. At Derhake Dental in Florrisant, MO, we restore cavities with tooth-colored fillings made of composite resin to create a durable, virtually invisible repair.
Benefits of Composite Tooth Fillings
Composite resin creates beautiful, natural-looking repairs because it contains minute glass particles that give it a slightly translucent appearance. We carefully match the shade of the material to your tooth, and the result is a flawless finish, so seamless no one will suspect you have a filling!
Tooth-colored composite fillings offer several advantages over silver amalgam:
Blends with Your Smile
Tooth-colored composite fillings offer several advantages over amalgam fillings, including aesthetics. A metal filling is obvious when you open your mouth, but a composite filling blends perfectly with the rest of your smile.
Preserves Healthy Tooth Structure
When placing a composite filling, your dentist bonds the material directly to the tooth to help protect it from further decay and leave its structure intact. Metal fillings involve removing significant tooth structure, further weakening the tooth.
Creates a Stable Tooth Repair
Unlike composite fillings, metal fillings react to hot and cold temperatures by expanding and contracting. This is a problem because the filling can gradually pull away from the tooth, creating an opening for bacteria to enter and cause another cavity.
How to Avoid Dental Cavities
Your toothbrush and floss are two of the most powerful weapons you have against cavities. Plaque is a biofilm that builds up on your teeth throughout your day. Bacteria in plaque consume carbohydrates like sugars and starchy foods and create acid as a byproduct.
The acid eats away at tooth enamel, creating soft spots that eventually become cavities. When you brush at least twice a day, floss once, and use an antiseptic mouthwash, you remove plaque buildup and minimize your risk for cavities.
Professional teeth cleanings every six months are also crucial. At these appointments, your hygienist removes plaque from all tooth surfaces, including between teeth, where cavities often develop. They also remove tartar, which is hardened plaque you can’t remove with a toothbrush or floss.
You should also be consistent with dental exams that allow your dentist in Florissant to check for signs of cavities and treat them promptly. Cavities don’t repair themselves and can spread quickly. Waiting too long to seek treatment can result in a dental problem that’s more complex and costly to address.
Do You Think You Have a Cavity?
If you think you have a cavity or want to schedule your next dental checkup and teeth cleaning, please call our Florissant, MO, dental office. A friendly team member will be happy to help you schedule an appointment at your convenience.
