Keeping up with good hygiene at home and maintaining a strict schedule of visits to your dentist can help you avoid most dental issues, including cavities (which affect a large majority of people). However, prevention isn’t always guaranteed, and even when you take good care of your smile, you may still develop a cavity in one or more teeth. Fortunately, cavities can usually be treated easily with tooth-colored fillings, which restore your tooth by filling the cavity with a discreet, personalized, biocompatible resin.
How a Cavity Forms
When oral bacteria (the building blocks of plaque) cling to your teeth, some of them convert certain nutrients in your foods into substances that are harmful for your teeth. For instance, certain bacteria release acids that weaken the enamel protecting your teeth, allowing bacteria to slip past it and into your main tooth structure. Before long, the decay can create a hole in your tooth’s structure known as a cavity.
What a Filling Does
A tooth filling is a conservative restoration designed to “fill” a cavity and restore the tooth’s strength and integrity. To place a filling, your dentist will clean the cavity to remove any harmful bacteria and infected tooth structure that remains. Then, your dentist can fill the sanitized cavity with a biocompatible material—preferably, tooth-colored composite resin.
The Benefits of Tooth-Colored Resin
A tooth-colored filling is made from highly customizable composite resin. The resin consists of finely ground, BPA-free acrylic, making it safe for patients of all ages. It is also tinted to closely match the color of your natural tooth structure, so your filling will remain discreet and unnoticeable while restoring your tooth.
Learn More About Tooth-Colored Fillings
If you have a cavity or have had a metal filling placed before, then talk to your dentist about the many benefits of tooth-colored fillings. To learn more, schedule an appointment by calling the Sunny Smiles dental office nearest you in El Paso, TX, today! We have offices in the East, Northeast, and Westside of El Paso, and happily welcome patients from all nearby communities, including Chaparral, Canutillo, Vinton, and Sunland Park, New Mexico.