If you’re embarrassed of the way your smile looks because of noticeable decay or dark metal fillings in your front teeth, our team here at Greeley Complete Dentistry can help. Instead of relying on unattractive silver or amalgam to heal cavities in Greeley, Dr. Cure and Dr. Smith use a tooth-colored alternative to create a more cosmetically pleasing result. Call us today to learn more about how this solution can help protect your smile for years to come!
When a tooth wears down or breaks and needs a restorative solution, tooth-colored fillings are a great option. While fillings in the past were typically made of silver or an amalgam of various metals, tooth-colored fillings are made of composite resin. This malleable material closely resembles a putty and is comprised of fine particles of glass and acrylic. Its color can also be customized to blend in with your smile so that no one but our team has to know you even had a cavity.
In order to determine whether a filling is needed, your dentist in Greeley has to consider how large the cavity or fracture is. If more than two-thirds of the tooth’s natural structure is damaged, then we might suggest a dental crown instead. However, if less than two-thirds of the tooth is compromised, we can often utilize a filling.
While a cavity is the most common reason for receiving a filling, sometimes a tooth can crack after biting down too hard or sustaining an injury from playing contact sports. Regardless of the reason why you need the filling, our top priority is to use a solution that can heal your smile without compromising its appearance.
Getting a tooth-colored filling is an easy and painless process. In most cases, it can be completed in just one visit to our office that takes an hour or less.
First, we use a local anesthetic to numb the area of your mouth we’ll be treating. Next, we look at a shade guide and select the color of composite resin that most closely resembles your natural tooth enamel. The decayed or damaged section of your tooth is removed, and the area is thoroughly disinfected. We then apply the resin to your tooth, sculpting it as we go to ensure it becomes the correct shape. Once the tooth is restored, we shine a special ultraviolet curing light onto the tooth, which fully hardens the resin within seconds. After we make sure the filling fits within your bite and give your tooth one last polish, we’ll send you on your way with your new and improved smile!
Tooth-colored fillings in Greeley come with several advantages over traditional silver or amalgam fillings. For one, they are not made of metal, so their color can be personalized to mimic that of the rest of your smile. Onlookers shouldn’t be able to tell you ever had a cavity. Another benefit is that composite resin directly bonds with the enamel, sealing out the center of the tooth from harmful bacteria and temperature sensitivity. They also last up to a decade, about as long as metal fillings. Best of all, tooth-colored fillings are more conservative, allowing you to keep more of your natural tooth structure intact.
