Composite Dental Fillings
Davis, CA
Damaged teeth have the potential to cause a number of significant issues. If not addressed, these issues can only worsen, and this is quite harmful to your oral health. At Davis Dental Practice, your oral health is important. If your teeth have suffered damage, we can help. One way that we do this is with the use of composite fillings.
What Are Composite Fillings?
Composite fillings are made up of finely ground glass mixed in a resin material. This material can be used to fix several types of small issues. Fillings are typically made from composite resin or amalgam, but we offer composite resin for a few different reasons. For one, it blends into the natural color of your teeth. This makes composite fillings ideal for cavities that are present in visible areas of the teeth. And they are a great option for those who have allergies to metal.
 What Can Composite Fillings Fix?
One major cause of damage is the result of poor oral hygiene. Your mouth houses a significant number of bacteria. If you don’t brush and floss regularly, food and drinks residue remains in the mouth, becoming a buffet for bacteria. As the bacteria eat, they produce acids. These acids are harmful to the protective outer layer of your teeth, known as the enamel. Acids eat away at the enamel, leaving behind cavities. Cavities need to be filled, otherwise they can eat through the enamel to the dentin layer of the teeth, where hollow channels that lead to the roots live. Once inside, other infections are highly possible.
Another issue that composite fillings help to resolve isn’t necessarily caused by bacterial damage, but can be susceptible to it. Damage such as cracks and fractures create wonderful hiding spaces for bacteria that brushing and flossing cannot remove.
Procedure for Fillings
The procedure for composite resin fillings is simple and takes only a single visit. First, a local anesthetic may be applied. Next, we will remove the decay from the area. The cavity is cleaned and disinfected. Before the composite resin is placed, an acidic gel is used to create a rough surface, which allows the material to better adhere to the tooth. The gel is cleaned, and the tooth dried. The filling is placed into the cavity and cured with a special light. Finally, it is polished to create a smooth surface. When you leave, you can go right back to your life as normal.
Benefits of Composite Fillings
Composite fillings offer several benefits:
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They can be used to fix more than just cavities, such as cracks and fractures
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Amalgam fillings are silver, and therefore stand out. Composite fillings, on the other hand, match the color of your teeth, which means no one will be able to notice them
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Amalgam fillings contain metal, which means that people with metal allergies may want to avoid them. Composite resin is made up of fine glass in a resin material, without metal, making them a wonderful alternative
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Composite resin is also a great alternative to those who aren’t comfortable with the idea of mercury, which amalgam contains in low levels
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There is less drilling required than with amalgam, which means more of your natural tooth is preserved |
Damage to your teeth needs to be addressed as soon as possible to prevent serious issues, like a root canal. Contact us today at (530) 756-5300 to find out if composite fillings are the solution for you! |
