When it comes to treating certain dental health issues, some things never change. For example, treating cavities has always involved removing the infection in a tooth and then replacing the lost tooth structure. However, today, the way in which most treatments are performed are far more advanced and offer many more benefits than ever before. For patients in El Paso, TX, treating cavities with tooth-colored fillings helps them eliminate the many affects of tooth decay.
What You Can Expect
- One thing that has remained the same throughout the years is the time-sensitive nature of treating cavities. The tooth decay that causes them can rapidly erode your tooth structure once it sets in, and a filling’s purpose is to stop that progression. Before placing any type of filling, your dentist will stop this progression by first cleaning away the bacteria and infected tooth structure within the cavity.
- Throughout the centuries, tooth fillings have been made from a wide variety of materials. Until recently, the most popular material was metal amalgam, which consists of a variety of different trace metals. Now, however, dentists and patients more often choose tooth-colored composite resin, which consists of a mixture of biocompatible acrylic and quartz-like particles that can be tinted to match any tooth color.
- One of the biggest benefits of tooth-colored fillings is that they can discreetly blend in with the natural, healthy appearance of your teeth. However, modern fillings also offer the advantage of interacting more favorably with your natural tooth structure. For example, the resin can be bonded more securely to tooth structure, making it a more viable seal against harmful oral bacteria.
- Because of their many benefits, tooth-colored fillings are becoming an increasingly more popular solution for treating cavities. This also leads to improved oral health as the more advanced restorations reduce your risks of experiencing a failed filling and the need for more extensive restorative treatment (such as root canal therapy).
Learn More About Tooth-Colored Fillings
Today’s tooth-colored fillings offer several important benefits over their more traditional versions. 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.