Dental Fillings
Mill Creek, Washington
Did you know that cavities are one of the most prevalent chronic diseases among all age groups? Untreated tooth decay can progress and lead to complications, including serious infections, bone loss around a tooth's root, and even tooth loss. At 360 Dental of Mill Creek, we offer tooth-colored fillings to restore your smile's health and function with seamless results.
Tooth-Colored Dental Fillings - An Overview
Tooth-colored fillings are made of a composite resin material. They are designed to match the color and shade of your natural teeth, providing an aesthetic option to treat cavities and restore healthy, functional teeth. Composite fillings are also helpful in repairing chipped or broken teeth, delivering an incredibly natural appearance.
What Are the Advantages of Tooth-Colored Teeth?
In the past, dental amalgam fillings were the only types of fillings available to repair cavities. Despite the durability and strength of silver fillings, their noticeable color often poses a cosmetic concern. The metal content contracts and expands with temperature changes, causing cracks and fractures in the tooth structure.
Tooth-colored fillings preserve more of your natural tooth structure because the material bonds to the surfaces of the affected tooth like an adhesive. That also helps provide strength and resilience comparable to your natural teeth.
Tooth-colored composite fillings are constantly improved and reinvented. Their earlier versions could only repair small to mid-sized cavities in teeth withstanding mild to moderate chewing pressure. However, advances in dental technology and composite material composition now allow us to use tooth-colored fillings on any tooth, providing a durable and aesthetic dental restoration solution.
What Is the Dental Filling Procedure?
The dental filling procedure is simple, fast, and relatively painless. We will start by numbing your tooth and surrounding area to ensure you are comfortable throughout treatment. Dr. Punia will remove the decayed portions of the tooth and clean and sterilize the area. He will place the tooth-colored filling material in layers and use a curing light to harden it.
Dr. Punia will shape your restoration to look and feel like your natural teeth and adjust your filling to ensure it is comfortable and functional. The last step is polishing your restoration to match the sheen and texture of your natural tooth structure.
How Can You Prevent Cavities?
While tooth-colored fillings provide an excellent tooth restoration option, the best treatment for cavities is to prevent them from developing in the first place. The most effective way to do that is to maintain meticulous oral care practices, including regular brushing and flossing. We also recommend consuming a balanced diet and limiting sugary foods and beverages to keep tooth decay and cavities at bay.
Make sure you maintain your routine, twice-yearly dental exams and cleanings. These preventive practices lower your risk of tooth decay, and even if it develops, we'll be able to diagnose it early on and repair it with a tooth-colored filling. That will prevent the condition from progressing and requiring extensive treatments down the road. Caring for your oral health will help you enjoy a healthy, beautiful smile for life.
Tooth-Colored Fillings Near Me
If you have signs of tooth decay or want to learn more about tooth-colored fillings, 360 Dental of Mill Creek is here to help. Our team is happy to answer your questions and looks forward to taking care of your smile's needs.
We invite you to contact our Mill Creek office at 425-999-8159 to schedule your appointment with Dr. Punia or schedule one online today!