At Seacrest Dental, we know that the appearance of your teeth is as an important a consideration as how they feel. We don’t want your dental care to get in the way of your beautiful smile, and we’ve embraced improvements in technology that allow us to perform treatments that both repair your teeth and restore function while also maintaining the aesthetics of your smile.
One of these treatments is tooth-colored fillings.
We simply don’t believe that a filling should leave a permanent dark spot on your tooth, not when there’s something better. At our Seagrove and Miramar Beach dental offices, we exclusively offer tooth-colored composite fillings that blend in flawlessly with the natural shade of your enamel. In fact, Dr. Ruder has been providing this service to our patients since this type of filling first became available in the 1980s!
WHAT ARE THE ADVANTAGES OF TOOTH-COLORED FILLINGS?
We’ve found that tooth-colored composite fillings are superior to amalgam fillings in every way. In addition to the obvious cosmetic advantage, here are some of the other features we love about composite fillings:
- Tooth-colored fillings allow us to leave more of your natural tooth structure intact.
- Unlike metal fillings, composites don’t expand and contract in response to changes in temperature. Over time, metal fillings can actually cause your teeth to crack.
- Composites don’t “leak” the way that metal fillings can.
- Composite fillings are easier to place and don’t require special precautions.
Additionally, composite fillings are highly versatile. In addition to using them to fill cavities, we can also repair chips, conceal discolorations, and make other structural and cosmetic repairs using this material.
WHY DID I GET A CAVITY IN THE FIRST PLACE?
It’s great that we can repair your tooth so perfectly that you’ll never know where your cavity was, but you may be wondering why you developed a cavity in the first place – especially if you are diligent about your home care routine and keeping your regular cleanings and check-ups.
Cavities are actually caused by the bacteria that live in your mouth. Some people are more susceptible to these bacteria, and the bacteria can actually be transferred from person to person (which is one of the reasons why some families are more prone to cavities).
These bacteria have a favorite food – sugar. Sugar doesn’t just come from candy, though. It’s also in fruits, dairy, and starchy foods like bread and pasta. As the bacteria metabolize the sugars in your mouth, they excrete an acid, and it’s this acid that does all the damage and causes the small holes in your teeth known as cavities.
With good home hygiene, regular visits, and preventive treatments like fluoride and sealants, we can reduce your risk for developing cavities significantly. Unfortunately, we can’t eliminate it completely, but when you keep up with your routine examinations, we can catch cavities in their earliest stages, when they are easy to treat.
