The Benefits of Composite Fillings

Getting a filling is one of the most familiar procedures in dentistry. Even children understand that if you have a cavity, the dentist can repair it with a dental filling. However, dental fillings aren’t what they used to be. In fact, they’ve come a long way in terms of function and aesthetics. In the past, amalgam (or silver) fillings were the go-to option for repairing an area of decay. Now, patients have the opportunity for a more preferred filling material using composite resin – also known as a “tooth-colored filling”.

Composite resin fillings are made of a silicon dioxide-filled, tooth-colored plastic mixture. Don’t let that overwhelm you. What you need to know is that composite resin is top ranked in durability and unrivaled in appearance.

Compared to those flashy silver fillings used in the past, composite resin offers several key advantages:

#1 Natural Blend – Composite resin doesn’t include metal of any kind. The white material can be mixed to mimic the exact shade of your natural tooth, which means a confident smile despite your recent tooth damage.

#2 Supports Tooth Structure – Composite resin is equipped to support the remaining tooth structure of a damaged or decayed tooth. It bonds directly to the tooth so it can strengthen the overall tooth and help you avoid further breakage. The unique application and design even works to insulate the tooth against extreme temperature changes.

#3 Long-lasting Solution – The aesthetic improvement doesn’t come at the sacrifice of sustainability or durability. Small and medium composite fillings last about 7 to 10 years, which is just as long as a traditional amalgam filling.

#4 Conservative Approach – Composite resin is placed in layers and involves a method that allows your dentist to preserve more of your healthy tooth structure. In other words, we don’t have to shave down or remove as much tooth to place a composite filling as we do with an amalgam filling.

#5 Highly Versatile – Composite resin has become the most preferred material for repairing a cavity. However, it can be used in cosmetic dentistry too. Composite bonding is an excellent solution to improve the appearance of minor chips, discoloration or even small tooth gaps.

#6 Safe, Mercury-Free – There’s been a lot of discussion and debate surrounding the safety of mercury in amalgam fillings. You can eliminate that concern by choosing a tooth-colored, composite filling instead.

At Riverwood Dental, we believe in offering dental treatments that are not only conservative but also more preferred by our patients. Tooth-colored fillings can restore your dental health without the threat of compromising your smile appearance. To learn more about the advantages of tooth-colored fillings, please call our Atlanta office today.