The Best Things About Tooth-Colored Fillings

Cavities may be common, and most people may have to deal with them at some point, but that doesn’t make them any less serious of a threat to your oral health. In fact, if left unattended long enough, the decay that causes cavities can erode a substantial amount, or all, of your healthy tooth structure. In severe cases, it may even lead to tooth loss. The good news is that, with a modern, tooth-colored filling, you have a good chance of treating your cavity in a way that stops it from growing any worse and restores your tooth’s integrity, all while remaining highly discreet.

They don’t contain metal

For a filling to be tooth-colored, it has to be custom-tinted to match the shade and hue of your tooth. That isn’t possible with metal fillings, which were once the most common types of tooth fillings for most patients. The lack of metal offers significant advantages, such as being safer for more patients with tooth decay (especially those with metal allergies). Instead of metal, tooth-colored fillings are comprised of a composite resin made from finely ground acrylic and quartz-like particles. This makes them much more biocompatible, and a much better restoration for common cavities.

They’re good at mimicking natural teeth

In addition to being safer for your oral and overall health, tooth-colored fillings also provide several immediately noticeable benefits for your smile. The most noticeable of these is the fact that they blend in with your tooth’s appearance, hence their name. For some patients, the appearance of a traditional metal filling might be a serious consideration in restoring their smiles. With biocompatible composite resin, we can design a filling that doesn’t force you to choose between restoring your tooth and preserving your smile’s naturally attractive appearance.

They’re good at stopping bacteria

Looking more like your natural tooth structure gives tooth-colored fillings an obvious advantage over metal ones, but the benefits will be even more obvious down the road, when the filling continues to successfully protect the tooth. After having a cavity, part of your tooth’s structure will no longer have any enamel to protect it. A tooth-colored filling can bond securely to that tooth structure to not only fill your cavity, but also seal and protect the exposed tooth structure from harmful oral bacteria. This helps reduce your risks of experiencing further decay in the tooth and needing more extensive treatment to save it.

Learn more about tooth-colored fillings

Treating your cavity with a tooth-colored filling can give your tooth and smile a number of important benefits. To schedule an appointment, call Yelena Popkova D.D.S. in Merrimack, NH, today at 603-595-9400. We also serve the residents of Nashua, Hudson, Manchester, Milford, and all surrounding communities.