One of the biggest reasons why tooth fillings are among the mott popular dental treatments is because they’re designed to treat cavities, which affect almost every one at least once in their lives. With today’s modern tooth fillings, most cavities can be successfully treated without the use of traditional metal amalgam. Using a more biocompatible and natural-looking material known as composite resin, your dentist may be able to help you treat your cavity with a metal-free filling that blends in with your tooth’s natural appearance.
It looks more like natural tooth structure
The most obvious advantage to treating a cavity with a metal-free filling is the material’s ability to blend in with your tooth. Composite resin is a mixture of acrylic and quartz-like particles that’s applied to your tooth structure as a resin, and can be tinted to match the tooth’s unique color and shade for optimal discretion. Compared to more traditional metal fillings, which can’t be colored to match your natural tooth structure, a tooth-colored filling will remain discreet long after you’ve treated your cavity.
It can bond more securely to your tooth
When a tooth-colored filling is placed in your cavity, its ability to blend in with its appearance is only part of the advantage it provides. The point of filling a cavity is to restore and protect the tooth, which requires that the filling be bonded securely to the tooth structure in order to create a seal that protects it. Metal-free composite resin fillings are highly biocompatible and can be bonded securely to your tooth at nearly point of its main structure. This enables the filling to more securely protect the tooth and preserve its long-term health and integrity.
It’s safer for more patients with cavities
One of the drawbacks to traditional metal fillings is that they weren’t a viable option for patients who have cavities, but also have metal allergies or other health conditions that could be negatively impacted. The lack of any metal in a composite resin filling and the biocompatibility of the resin itself make it a safer option for all patients who need to have a cavity treated. This means more people can avoid having to undergo more extensive treatment, such as root canal therapy, to address more severe cases of tooth decay.
Learn about the benefits of metal-free fillings
For many patients who have a cavity to deal with, a metal-free filling can offer the safest and more biocompatible solution to treating it. To learn more, or to schedule an appointment, call Lake Orion Family Dentistry in Lake Orion, MI, today at 248-693-6213.
