Dental fillings are an effective, long-term solution for treating minor and more advanced cases of tooth decay. While at one time they were usually created from metals like amalgam or gold, your Livonia, MI, dentist can offer a more lifelike alternatives with composite resin. In today’s blog, we’re going to explain how we create restorations that blend with your tooth.
When to Seek a Restoration
If you attend your routine six-month visits, then we will have a chance to examine your smile regularly, and identify issues like tooth decay in the earliest stages, often just at the start of demineralization, before you experience toothaches. Otherwise, you may not know you need treatment until a cavity reaches a more advanced stage, causing sensitivity and aches and increasing the risk of infection. If you have pain in your smile that persists for more than a day, then let us know right away!
Creating a Metal-Free Filling
We don’t use metal at all to create your filling, instead, we will employ composite resin. This material blends glass and acrylic, and can be tinted to match the surrounding tooth structure. The material insulates against hot and cold to reduce sensitivity, and can be rebuilt and repaired as needed in the future. The material is also free of mercury, which is found in trace amounts in amalgam fillings. That means your restoration is safe for people of all ages, including pregnant women and those with metal allergies. Placement is simple. We remove decay and clean the tooth. We prepare and place the material on the tooth, then we cure it with a light and polish the tooth. In one visit, we restore the health and beauty of the tooth in question.
Keeping Cavities Away
Following treatment, you can take steps to help safeguard your smile against future cases of tooth decay. For example, try to cut back on sugary foods and drinks, as these leave behind particles that feed harmful bacteria. Make time to brush and floss to remove trapped food particles and control plaque buildup. Then, see us every six months. We will watch for signs of demineralization, and also remove all plaque and tartar to help keep your smile healthy and strong. If you have any questions about avoiding the onset of tooth decay, which otherwise impacts people of all ages, then contact our team today. We will also discuss the process of treating decay with a lifelike and long-lasting dental filling.
DO YOU HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT COSMETIC RESTORATIONS?
Our team is ready to halt cavities and protect your smile with treatments that look natural. For more information on our lifelike cavity treatments, then call the office of James Stewart, DDS in Livonia, MI, today at (734) 425-4400.