Tooth-Colored Fillings
In the past, dentists used metal fillings to help patients treat small to midsize cavities. Metal fillings, also known as amalgams, are known for their durability, but they're not known for their attractiveness. Amalgams have a dark gray color that causes them to stand out against a whiter smile. As a result, patients with amalgam fillings may feel self-conscious about smiling.
Thankfully, there's an alternative to amalgams that's cosmetically and restoratively superior. Known as composite resin fillings, or tooth-colored fillings, this option can be shaded to match your smile's natural color. As a result, no one but you and our Fort Worth team will ever have to know about your fillings, allowing you to smile with a greater sense of confidence and satisfaction.
Other Benefits of Tooth-Colored Fillings
Beside their natural color, composite fillings have a couple other advantages over amalgam fillings.
First, tooth-colored fillings are resistant to changes in temperature while amalgam fillings aren't. Amalgams can actually expand and contract depending on the temperature. This can result in small cracks that re-expose the tooth to harmful bacteria. Because tooth-colored fillings are temperature resistant, though, patients receiving care with them can enjoy greater protection from bacterial reinvasion.
Tooth-colored fillings are also more supportive of the tooth’s structure. This means a tooth restored with a composite filling will have nearly the same strength and functionality as it did before it was weakened by decay. You can't say the same thing about a tooth restored with an amalgam filling. Amalgams lead to weaker teeth overall, in part because more of the tooth must be removed to place them. With composite fillings, on the other hand, you can keep more of your natural smile.
Conservative Care with a Cosmetic Focus
At Art District Dental, we're committed to providing patients in and around Fort Worth with conservative dentistry that improves the appearance of their teeth. The goal of conservative dentistry is to give patients the essential care they need while making as few changes to their teeth as possible. Tooth-colored fillings allow us to do this in a way that also benefits them cosmetically.
To learn more about tooth-colored fillings and conservative dentistry, we invite you to call our Fort Worth office. Our team would be happy to answer your questions or reserve an appointment with Dr. Wear for you.
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