If you have a mouth full of metal fillings, you may want to consider having them replaced with tooth colored cosmetic dental fillings. Advances in dental techniques and materials now make it possible to restore decayed teeth without negatively affecting the appearance of your smile. Many dentists offer fillings made of ceramic and plastic compounds that mimic the appearance of natural teeth. These white fillings are commonly referred to as “composite fillings” and are often used to fill decayed teeth in the front of your mouth. They are also used to replace old metal fillings in the back of the mouth.
A composite filling procedure involves removing the decay or old metal filling from the tooth and then applying an adhesive followed by several thin layers of the tooth-colored composite. Once the filling is in place, it is chemically hardened for less than a minute using a special light. Composite fillings are much more aesthetically pleasing than metal fillings. Because of the composite material’s ability to bond to teeth adhesively, composite fillings require less of the healthy structure of a tooth to be removed to hold the dental filling in place. This is a major advantage over metal fillings.
It may take a little bit longer to place a composite filling than a traditional filling. Is some cases, composite fillings may be more expensive than metal fillings, however, for most patients, the advantages well outweigh the difference in cost. If you have teeth that are decayed or if you have metal fillings in your mouth that you are interested in replacing with composite fillings, talk to a qualified cosmetic dentist in your local area.
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