“You have a cavity.” These are never enjoyable words to hear from your dentist. The good news is the treatment used to repair cavities is fairly quick and painless. Dental fillings are performed daily in dental offices across the U.S. It is estimated that nine out of every 10 Americans over the age of 35 have at least one dental filling. That means that chances are pretty high that you will need at least one cavity repaired at least once in your lifetime.

Most dental fillings in the early years of dental treatments were repaired with silver amalgam. However, many dentists today prefer to use composite resin – also known as white fillings or tooth-colored fillings – for a durable and aesthetically pleasing result.

Grant Park general dentist Dr. Abbey Lee provides white fillings at our dental practice to repair cavities. If you are concerned you may have a cavity and desire a seamless finish, please contact our office today online or by calling 404.328.7177. Outlined below are some of the reasons why white fillings provide an excellent tooth restorative solution.

Simulates Natural Enamel

White fillings look more like natural enamel than silver or gold fillings, providing an aesthetically pleasing effect. During the preparation process, the composite resin used for white fillings is shade matched to your enamel and will not alter the color of your tooth, as is the case with silver amalgam fillings. If you have silver amalgam fillings, you may notice the tooth with the filling is grayish in color compared to nearby teeth. With white fillings in place, you can display your pearly whites with confidence.

Preserves Tooth Structure

When a cavity is present, it means there is an opening in the outer structure of your tooth that shouldn’t be there. This creates a place for bacteria to continue to form and cause oral health issues. To prevent the infection from remaining and spreading, the opening must be filled. But before that happens, the bacteria must be removed. This often requires minor reshaping of the tooth to make adequate space for the filling material. Due to the consistency of silver amalgam, more of the existing tooth structure must be removed, which can lead to dental sensitivity and a weakened tooth. However, this is not the case with composite resin. As the tooth is prepared for composite resin, only minimal tooth alteration is required, allowing you to conserve maximum structural integrity.

Strong and Safer Results

Composite resin is a combination of non-toxic acrylic and ceramic designed to provide both durability and safety. Silver amalgam is a metal alloy mixture of copper, nickel, zinc, and silver. Anyone with a metal allergy is at risk with silver amalgam fillings. And because it also contains mercury, amalgam can cause even greater harm. In recent years, mercury has been linked to systemic infections and chronic health conditions.

Silver amalgam is also unable to maintain stability during drastic temperature changes. It can expand and contract when consuming hot/cold foods and beverages and cause tiny cracks in the tooth enamel that can weaken the tooth and require the need for a dental crown. White fillings are able to endure temperature changes and restore complete dental function.

Learn More About White Fillings

If you are concerned you may have a cavity, we encourage you to book an appointment with our Grant Park office today. Dr. Lee will restore your smile with a white filling. Please contact us today online or by calling 404.328.7177 to schedule your consultation.