Tooth-Colored Fillings – Homewood, AL
Seamless Cavity Repair for Young Smiles
An estimate published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states that more than half of children ages 6 – 8 have had a cavity in their primary teeth, and more than half of adolescents have had a cavity in their adult teeth. Here at Angelica Rohner Pediatric Dentistry in Homewood, Dr. Rohner and our team try to help patients prevent decay. However, if this issue does occur, we are ready to offer seamless cavity repair for young smiles via tooth-colored fillings.
Why Choose Angelica Rohner Pediatric Dentistry for Tooth-Colored Fillings?
- Able to Remove Old Metal Fillings
- Compassionate & Skilled Dental Team
- Beautiful, Durable Results that Last for Years
What Are Tooth-Colored Fillings?
The purpose of a dental filling is to repair a cavity, a small hole that forms in a tooth as the result of plaque and bacterial activity. In the past, dentists always had to use a material known as silver amalgam to fill in cavities. Patients tended to dislike it because it has a dark color and contains a significant amount of mercury.
Tooth-colored fillings are different. They are made of a biocompatible composite resin, which consists of tiny glass and plastic particles. They are completely metal-free and can be shade-matched to blend in beautifully with the surrounding enamel.
The Process of Getting a Tooth-Colored Filling
The tooth-colored filling treatment process is fairly simple. First, we may numb your child’s mouth. (In cases where a child is particularly fearful, we may also administer sedation.) Then, we carefully remove decayed tissue from within the cavity. Next, we insert the filling material and harden it with a special curing light. To finish, we polish the filling and adjust it so it will not interfere with your child’s bite.
Usually, the entire process takes less than an hour. Your child’s tooth might be sensitive for a few days, but they should be able to eat right after any local anesthesia wears off.
The Benefits of Tooth-Colored Fillings
Compared to metal fillings, tooth-colored fillings offer some remarkable benefits:
- Tooth-colored fillings bond directly to the tooth, which strengthens the tooth by restoring most of its original shape. Metal fillings weaken the teeth and make them more susceptible to breaking, which can be very expensive to fix.
- Tooth-colored fillings are preferred by most patients. This is due to their natural color, strength, and overall appearance and feel.
- Hot and cold sensitivity is greatly reduced with tooth-colored composite material compared to metal material.
- Tooth-colored composite restorations require much less removal of natural tooth structure than metal restorations, and dramatically smaller holes are needed with a composite.
- Tooth-colored fillings are healthier than their metal counterparts because no mercury is used to make them.