Dental Fillings
Enjoy a More Natural Smile with Composite Dental Fillings
Tooth decay is one of the most common chronic health conditions. Fortunately, there are ways to prevent it, and in cases where decay is unavoidable, a dental filling is an affordable, natural-looking, and safe solution. Not only are our fillings at Littlestown Dental Associates some of the most aesthetic restorations available today, but they are strong and long-lasting as well.
Dental Fillings—The Most Conservative Solution for Tooth Restoration
At Littlestown Dental Associates, we rely on high-quality materials, latest technology, and advanced techniques to create restorations for our patients that last a lifetime. Our goal is to create results that are designed to be virtually undetectable. We use tooth-colored fillings as restorations when our patients have:
- Tooth decay
- Chipped teeth
- Cracked teeth
Dental Fillings—The Process
The procedure for placing a composite resin dental filling is a routine treatment that we do every day at Littlestown Dental Associates. Here’s how it works:
- Drs. Strickler or Ahmed isolate the tooth from saliva to keep it dry.
- Any dental decay is removed.
- An etchant and a bonding agent are applied, followed by the composite resin.
- A special light is used to harden each layer of composite resin material.
- After the tooth is filled, the composite resin is shaped to resemble a real tooth.
- Finally, the restoration is smoothed and polished to accommodate your bite.
What are composite resin fillings and restorations?
Composite resin fillings are the most common alternative to dental amalgam. They are sometimes called “tooth-colored” or “white” fillings because of their color. Composite resin fillings are made of a type of plastic (an acrylic resin) reinforced with powdered glass filler. Composite resin is often placed in layers to build up the final restoration, then cured with an “ultra-violet light.” This light energy speeds up the chemical reaction of the components causing the soft material to harden and bond to the tooth. This material is considered safe. The color (shade) of composite resins can be customized to closely match surrounding teeth. This plastic and glass mixture contains no metal and can be shaped to resemble a real tooth. It is usually hard to tell if a tooth has even been filled!
Benefits of Composite Resin Restorations
- Preferred white/natural-looking color
- Better for smaller fillings
- Preservation of more tooth structure
The resin in our composites wears like natural teeth and does not require placement at the gum line, another advantage that reinforces gum health.
What’s wrong with metal/amalgam fillings?
At Littlestown Dental Associates, we prefer tooth-colored composite restorations whenever appropriate because they blend naturally with your smile and allow for a more conservative restoration of the tooth. However, there are situations where composite may not be the best long-term choice. In these cases, we may recommend a modern mercury-free amalgam restoration due to its exceptional strength and durability, particularly in areas of the mouth exposed to heavy biting and chewing forces.
We are excited to be able to restore decayed teeth to their optimal appearance and function. At Littlestown Dental Associates, we use dental fillings to help adult and pediatric patients preserve their healthy, beautiful teeth and avoid additional damage.
The result is a healthy, functional smile that looks great and lasts. During your visit, our doctors will discuss all available treatment options and recommend the restoration that best meets your individual needs.