The Benefits Of Composite Fillings

The Benefits Of Composite Fillings

Posted November 16, 2015 by Wager-Evans Dental

composite fillings If you receive treatment for a cavity, you will have infected parts of your tooth removed. Unless the amount of decayed tooth is significant, the lost material will be replaced with a filling. Many people may imagine that a filling has to be made of metal, but that is no longer the case. A composite resin filling can imitate the color and shape of your tooth, and allows your dentist to leave more of your healthy tooth intact. This material also carries less risk of reshaping and moving, as the composite is less susceptible to the effects of heat and cold than metal.

Composite Fillings

The material used in composite fillings is a metal-free resin, which bonds directly to your tooth, and has a white color that conforms to the color of your natural teeth. In addition to its more esthetically pleasing look, a composite filling does not contain mercury, which can be found in metal fillings. The metal in an amalgam filling can expand when heated, and contract when cold. While all teeth respond to temperatures in this way, the effect is more pronounced for metal, and that reshaping can weaken the filling, or damage nearby teeth.

Who Needs A Filling?

You will need a filling if you develop a cavity in a tooth. The purpose of the filling is to replace the surface of the tooth that has to be removed when your dentist cleans out a cavity. If you brush and floss your teeth regularly, and keep up with routine dental appointments, you can reduce the likelihood that you will ever need a filling.