Many of today’s modern dental treatments are not new, just vastly improved over what they were years ago. For instance, tooth fillings have been a go-to restorative treatment for patients with cavities for hundreds of years. However, where fillings were once made mostly from mixed metal amalgam, they are now most often crafted from lifelike materials like biocompatible composite resin. Thanks to advanced materials that can better meet patients’ long-term dental needs,
today’s tooth fillings are still as popular as they’ve always been, and perhaps more so.
What Fillings Do
A tooth filling is exactly what it sounds like; the treatment involves your dentist filling the cavity, or hole, in your tooth caused by tooth decay. The purpose of the restoration is two-fold—the material replaces the tooth structure you’ve lost, and it protects the exposed tooth structure from further infection. Because cavities are progressive, tooth fillings are necessary to preserve what remains of your healthy tooth. Because cavities affect over 90% of people, fillings are among the most commonly recommended dental restorations.
Today’s More Attractive Fillings
Today, fillings are frequently made from composite resin that can be tinted to mimic the color and appearance of your healthy teeth. The immediate benefit of tooth-colored fillings is that they blend in with your teeth to remain discreet. However, the resin also bonds to your tooth structure better than metal, making it a more reliable seal against harmful oral bacteria. This reduces your risks of needing more extensive treatment due to more severe tooth decay later.
Learn More About the Benefits of Tooth Fillings
For patients who have cavities, fillings remain the best, and now the most attractive, solution for treating them. To learn more, or to schedule an appointment, call Creekside Family Dental Care in Columbia, TN, today at (931) 388–3384.