What You Can’t See: Tooth-colored Filling Benefits
Although many people think of cosmetic dentistry and restorative dentistry as being completely separate entities, there is actually a lot of overlap between the two. In fact, most modern restorative dentistry procedures offer nearly as many aesthetic benefits as they do functional and oral health benefits. When patients restore their damaged teeth and gums, they generally emerge with smiles that are healthier looking and more radiant than they have had in years.
Among the most popular restorative dentistry treatments available at Nordhus Dentistry are tooth-colored fillings, a modern variation on one of the most time-honored of all dental treatments. Tooth-colored fillings offer outstanding value, restoring form, function, and oral health to teeth that have been damaged by decay. We invite you to read about the following tooth-colored filling benefits and then schedule a consultation at our Wichita office to discover the difference that patient-centered care can make to the dental experience.
What are the benefits of tooth-colored fillings?
At one point, the primary drawback of tooth-colored fillings was that they were not as strong or as durable as their silver amalgam counterparts. As a result, they were considered unsuitable for the back teeth, where the majority of the chewing took place. However, advances in dental ceramics have made tooth-colored fillings comparable in strength and durability to silver amalgam fillings; in some cases, they may even be harder wearing. Now that the one notable drawback to tooth-colored fillings has been resolved, their many advantages shine even brighter.
The many benefits of tooth-colored fillings include:
- A lack of mercury: Unlike silver amalgam fillings, tooth-colored fillings are mercury free. While there is considerable debate over whether the small amount of mercury contained in silver amalgam fillings has any negative health effects, there is no debate over the fact that mercury is a substance that is toxic to human beings. The average patient almost certainly does not care about debates between scientists, researchers, and dental professionals - however, he or she might want to think twice about putting a toxin in his or her mouth when a perfectly good alternative is available.
- Greater stability when exposed to hot and cold temperatures: Metal fillings expand and contract when exposed to hot and cold temperatures, which can cause them to crack or become dislodged. While tooth-colored fillings also react to hot and cold temperatures, they expand and contract to a significantly smaller degree, reducing the risk of their breaking or becoming dislodged to a negligible figure.
- The ability to blend seamlessly into any smile: The biggest benefit of tooth-colored fillings is…wait for it…they’re tooth colored! They provide all of the oral health benefits of conventional metal fillings while being completely inconspicuous. When you smile, you will reveal only a mouth full of beautiful, healthy teeth with not a glimmer of metal in sight.
Learn More about the Benefits of Tooth-colored Fillings
If you would like to learn more about the many benefits of tooth-colored fillings, we encourage you to contact our cosmetic, restorative, and general dentistry practice today.