Tooth-colored fillings and dental bonding are similar procedures but they have plenty of differences that set them apart from each other. Knowing how these treatments work and the kinds of dental repairs they are intended for will help you understand your Arlington, TX, dentist’s choices for your dental care.
All About Tooth-Colored Fillings
A dental filling is done most often to repair a decayed tooth. The problem area is drilled, the cavity removed, and the filling put in place. Though tooth-colored fillings are usually intended to fix decay, they can also be used to repair chips, cracks, worn teeth, stains or discoloration, gaps, old fillings, and silver fillings.
In short, fillings fix the functionality of a tooth and help prolong its life. Thanks to modern developments, tooth-colored fillings give the repair a natural look so it blends in with the rest of your tooth enamel and does not stand out in an unsightly way. Fillings are available in several different compositions:
- Composite fillings are strong, durable, and used for small- to medium-sized cavities.
- Porcelain fillings are used for large cavities on the chewing surface of the tooth.
- Onlays or inlays are known as partial crowns and cover a larger area of the tooth than a typical filling.
Most fillings require a local numbing agent to get the work done, especially if your dentist must remove tooth decay or structurally unsound portions of the tooth. The procedure is typically done in one dental visit.
All About Dental Bonding
Dental bonding is a cosmetic procedure that is largely intended for cosmetic repairs. Bonding can address the functionality of a tooth just like a filling, but it is commonly used to improve the appearance of a tooth.
Bonding can repair teeth with all sorts of problems: jagged tooth, broken tooth, surface cracks, misshapen, gapped, discolored, and, yes, even decayed. Bonding can also be used to help fix some teeth that have gum recession.
Dental bonding is a trifecta of dental care – a functional and cosmetic repair that prolongs the life of a tooth. The process is fast and easy and does not require any numbing to get the work done. It builds up the tooth in the problem area and leaves an attractive, natural-looking repair behind. Dental bonding is an economical choice that requires only one quick dental visit.
Get the Right Dental Care at an Arlington Dentist Near Me
Your dentist will let you know exactly which kind of dental care you need for whatever is happening with your oral health. You can have a conversation about pros and cons, but there are just some situations that call for a filling over bonding and vice versa. Take your dentist’s expert advice and get the recommended repair – you can be sure that their knowledge will serve you best and give you the longest-lasting, most appropriate repair for what’s happening with your oral health.
Get the right dental care when you search for an “Arlington dentist near me” and discover the dental office of Dr. Alana Macalik. If you have concerns about the appearance of your smile or believe you may be suffering from a cavity, schedule an appointment with Dr. Macalik today.