Tooth-Colored Fillings in Richardson
Most of the time when you come to see the “dentist near me” in Richardson, Dr. Nguyen tells you, “Everything looks great. See you in six months.” But at your last checkup you got the news that you have cavity. Not to worry—even dentists get cavities sometimes.
The good news is that we can now take care of that cavity with a tooth-colored filling. Instead of metal—which leaves a dark spot in your smile—a tooth-colored filling is made of composite resin material. You’ll have a filling that will not only be long lasting and strong, but one that blends seamlessly with the rest of your tooth structure.
How Does a Cavity Happen?
There are millions of bacteria in your mouth. Every time you eat, they feast on the food particles that remain in your mouth and on your teeth. Oral bacteria are particularly fond of sugars and carbohydrates. Like every other living organism, bacteria excrete waste, including acids that begin to erode your tooth enamel. By using fluoride toothpaste, you can help remineralize tooth enamel. However, if demineralization occurs faster than remineralization, you end up with a cavity.
Dental Fillings of Yesteryear
Believe it or not, dental fillings have been around for thousands of years. Archaeologists have found human remains with evidence of many different types of materials being used to rebuild teeth. It wasn’t until the 1900s that dentists began to use several metals including gold, silver and tin for dental fillings. Toward the end of century, mercury was added to make the metals stronger yet pliable. However, because mercury is a heavy metal with many possible health consequences, it soon came into disfavor so an alternative was sought.
Richardson Tooth-Colored Fillings
Dentists began to use composite resin for fillings in the 1960s. Thanks to advancements in the production of dental materials, tooth-colored fillings are now just as strong and durable as their metal predecessors.
Composite resin is a mixture of medical grade plastic and powdered glass filler. In addition to matching the natural color of your tooth, a filling made of composite resin actually strengthens the remaining tooth structure; while a metal filling only rests within the surrounding structure, a tooth-colored filling bonds to your tooth. In this way, the pressure of biting and chewing is evenly distributed throughout your tooth, so cracking and leakages around the filling are far less likely to occur.
Receiving a Tooth-Colored Filling from Dr. Nguyen
If necessary, Dr. Nguyen will anesthetize your tooth in order to remove decay. Once this is completed, a weak acid is applied to your tooth to roughen the surface. Then, then a bonding material is put on the tooth and the composite resin material is shaped into your tooth.