Fillings that Blend in with Teeth in El Paso, TX
A cavity is the result of tooth decay, which is the most frequently occurring dental health condition for both children and adults. Fortunately, cavities and the tooth decay that causes them are often easily treatable, especially if they’re detected and treated early. In many cases, this treatment may include little more than removing the decayed structure and bacteria from the cavity, then filling it with biocompatible material. At our office, we prefer using tooth-colored composite resin, which is highly customizable to match your tooth’s appearance as well as highly protective of your tooth’s exposed structure.
What Are Tooth-Colored Fillings?
Cavities grow larger the longer they’re left untreated. The sooner you fill yours, the better chance you have at preserving what remains of your healthy tooth structure. In most cases, the most appropriate way to fill a cavity is with a tooth-colored filling made from biocompatible resin. The most noticeable advantage of tooth-colored fillings is the fact that they blend in so discreetly with natural teeth that they remain virtually invisible. However, fillings made from resin also provide a wealth of other important advantages for restoring patients’ teeth and improving their long-term oral health.
Benefits of Biocompatible Resin
The biocompatible resin that tooth-colored fillings are made from consists of finely ground acrylic and quartz-like particles. Unlike traditional fillings, which were typically made from metal amalgam, a tooth-colored one conforms to the shape of your cavity more effectively and can adhere to the tooth structure more reliably. This means it can protect the tooth more successfully from bacteria that could otherwise re-enter the cavity and make your tooth decay worse. In the long run, this reduces your risks of experiencing more serious tooth infection and needing more extensive care, such as root canal therapy.
If It’s Too Late for a Filling
When a cavity is treated in time, a tooth-colored filling is usually the best solution. However, if you wait too long to treat your cavity, or if a tooth fractures and is exposed to immediate internal infection, then a tooth filling might not be enough. In severe cases of tooth decay, you might need root canal treatment to remove the infection from within your tooth’s inner structures. This process also involves removing decayed tooth structure and oral bacteria, but includes the tissues at the center of your tooth (its pulp chamber) and root canal.
Fill Your Cavity More Discreetly
When you need to fill a cavity, the best way to do so is often with a tooth-colored, biocompatible filling. To find out if a tooth-colored filling is best for you, or to schedule an appointment, call the Sunny Smiles office nearest you in El Paso, TX, today! We have offices in East and Northeast El Paso, and happily welcome patients from all nearby communities, including Chaparral, Canutillo, Vinton, and Sunland Park, New Mexico.