Traditions are wonderful things. But it is entirely another thing to get stuck in a rut, refuse to grow with the times or miss out on opportunities for even better options out of an assumption that what has always been done is still the best thing to do. When it comes to treating tooth decay and cavities, every dentist in Longmont has traditionally used amalgam or “silver” fillings. Amalgam fillings are called that because they’re made out of an amalgam (a combination) of metals including mercury, tin, copper and — appropriately — a small amount of silver. Some version of amalgam fillings has been used for over a thousand years, but you can start a new tradition — getting composite tooth-coloured fillings in Longmont.
The advantages of composite fillings
Composite fillings don’t use any metals to fill cavities in a tooth that has been damaged by tooth decay. Instead, composite fillings use a material made from powdered glass and plastic resins to form a putty that is applied in the cavity in layers to replace lost tooth material. Dentists provide composite fillings near you because they have several advantages compared to traditional amalgam fillings. Those advantages include:
● The material used to produce a composite filling is coloured to match your teeth. With composite fillings, you don’t need to be concerned about fillings standing out and being glaringly obvious to observers. Composite fillings blend naturally with the colour of your other healthy teeth.
● Placing a composite filling requires less drilling than required to place an amalgam filling. Less of your own tooth matter will need to be removed. To put it another way, composite fillings allow the preservation of more of your own tooth tissue.
● The resin compounds used to create a composite fillings harden in seconds
● The resin compounds bond to your own natural tooth tissue. That bonding lends strength to the tooth being filled to help prevent damage to it.
● If a composite filling is damaged, it can be repaired.
● In most cases, composite fillings can be provided in a single appointment (though large fillings may take a longer time or a second appointment because of the way the resins are applied in layers that need to harden).
● Unlike metal fillings, composite fillings do not expand and contract so the tooth is not exposed to the risk of cracks and breaking.
Five tips for prolonging the lifespan of tooth-coloured fillings
A tooth-coloured filling will last for a decade if well taken care of. No one wants to have a filling repaired or replaced any earlier than absolutely necessary — especially a composite filling that is somewhat more expensive than traditional silver fillings. Here are five common sense tips to prolong the lifespan of your composite fillings for as long as possible:
● Don’t chew near a new composite filling until it has hardened completely — roughly for 24 hours
● Avoid biting on ice, hard candy and other hard objects that can fracture composite fillings
● Make sure to attend dental check-ups regularly so your dentist can keep an eye on the condition of those fillings
● Remember that composite fillings are not as stain resistant as silver-fillings. To keep white fillings white, minimize your consumption of strongly coloured foods and beverages, brush your teeth thoroughly when you indulge and, when drinking strongly coloured drinks, use a straw when possible.
● Don't skip a single tooth brushing session! That will keep your white fillings white and the bacteria that produces tooth decay at bay.
Getting tooth-coloured composite near you is not your only option if you’d prefer not to have silver or amalgam fillings. Gold and porcelain fillings are two other options. Composite fillings from a dentist near you are more durable than porcelain options and much less expensive than gold fillings. The biggest advantage of composite fillings, though? They’re tooth coloured, subtle and discreet. We hope you never get another cavity or need a filling replaced. But if you do, ask your dentist to confirm the availability of tooth colored near you.
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