No one needs to know when you’ve had a cavity or damaged tooth repaired. Tooth-colored fillings restore your problem tooth in shape, size, and especially color so the dental restoration looks natural and allows you to bite, chew, and smile with confidence. Dr. Alana Macalik offers mercury-free tooth-colored fillings at her Arlington, TX, dental practice.
Types of Tooth-Colored Fillings
There was a time when silver fillings were common, but now they’re not – for a variety of reasons. Silver fillings are unsightly. They draw attention to teeth that were decayed or problematic. Amalgam fillings also contain mercury. Exposure to this toxin, even in the smallest traces, is damaging to your overall well-being. Silver fillings also threaten the strength of your tooth, expanding over time and leeching into the gums, putting you at risk for a broken tooth and discolored gums.
Tooth-colored fillings blend in with your natural teeth while making them strong again. Many patients see Dr. Macalik to have old amalgam fillings safely replaced with white fillings. The most common materials used for tooth-colored fillings include:
- Composite: Strong and durable, composite fillings are often used for moderately sized or small cavities. The composite preserves your natural tooth in color and stability, while filling the area where decay once was.
- Porcelain: Large cavities on the chewing surface of a tooth are often addressed using porcelain fillings. Tough and stain-resistant, porcelain white fillings look natural and keep your smile intact.
- Onlays or inlays: Onlays are often referred to as partial crowns and they cover the top surface of a tooth as well as one or more of a tooth’s cusps. Inlays cover only the biting surface of a tooth, much like a traditional filling. The repair fixes your tooth while keeping it a natural color.
Will Tooth-Colored Fillings Fix Your Dental Problem?
Fillings do much more than just fix teeth that have cavities. White fillings are not only a dental restoration, repairing a damaged or decayed tooth and stabilizing tooth structure, they are a cosmetic treatment too. Since tooth-colored fillings match tooth enamel, there is no sign that you had any work done, but your smile will be that much better looking for it.
Quite often, tooth-colored fillings eliminate the need for lengthier or more in-depth repairs. It may seem excessive if your dentist alerts you of a cavity or problem area and insists on a follow-up appointment to address it immediately. This proactive behavior is good for you – if you don’t tend to oral health issues quickly, you are far more likely to develop bigger problems and will end up undergoing major dental work as a result.
If you have any of the following problems with your teeth, tooth-colored fillings could work for you:
- Decay
- Chips
- Cracks
- Worn
- Stains or discoloration
- Gaps
- Silver fillings
- Old fillings
Get Tooth-Colored Fillings from Your Arlington Dentist
At her comprehensive family dentistry and general dentistry practice in Arlington, Texas, Dr. Alana Macalik treats patients of all ages with their oral health concerns. From cavities to oddly shaped teeth, tooth-colored fillings could be the solution.
No matter what age you are, you could always get a cavity. We know that some patients have weak or thin tooth enamel, making them more susceptible to cavities. We know that children are far more likely to develop cavities. And we know that adults with misaligned teeth have a greater likelihood of decay and infections without diligent preventive care. We aren’t here to judge your brushing and flossing routine – but we are here to help you when a problem materializes and teach you the best ways to care for your teeth.
If you have sensitivity to heat and cold, if you have tooth pain, if you are concerned about the appearance of your teeth, contact Dr. Macalik today to schedule your appointment and find out whether tooth-colored fillings are right for you.
