At one time, metal fillings were the only option for treating a cavity. Even today you may still have metal fillings in your mouth, so when you laugh or yawn they are super noticeable. However, since the development of tooth-colored composite resin dental material, tooth-colored, or white fillings, are the more commonly placed filling. White fillings are inconspicuous and blend with your surrounding tooth structure so there is no reason you have to broadcast your fillings.
The Benefits of Tooth-Colored Fillings
Although one of the major advantages of tooth-colored fillings is that they are “tooth-colored” and blend with your surrounding dentition therefore no one needs to know that you even have fillings, there are other advantages, too. These include:
- Although all fillings protect your tooth from breakage when you have an excessively large filling, composite resin filling material is bonded to your tooth and, therefore, reinforces and strengthens the actual structure of your tooth.
- For those patients sensitive to metal, metal-free composite resin fillings are safe and comfortable, for pregnant women, as well.
- Metal fillings expand and contract in reaction to temperature changes from foods and beverages, which can result in cracks or breaks in your tooth structure. However, tooth-colored fillings do not react to changes in temperature eliminating that problem as well as tooth sensitivity.
Suffering From Pain or Discomfort?
If you are suffering from pain or discomfort in one or more of your teeth, call your dentist for a complete checkup and X-rays. It is important to get your cavities treated in a timely manner so they don’t become excessively large and possibly require more intensive treatment.
