White Fillings & Other Restorative Procedures
There are several materials available to to fix basic cavities or chipped teeth. The two major materials are called amalgam (silver material that contains mercury) and composite resin. While we maintain the same view as the ADA that amalgam is a safe and effective material, we are an “amalgam-free” practice and we chose to only place composite resin or other similar tooth colored materials. No one wants to have a cavity or chipped tooth, but it is good to know that we can make you as good as new with the following procedures:
Composite Resin Fillings (White fillings)
Composite resin fillings are tooth-colored fillings that bond to teeth. They are a safe and effective way of restoring a tooth that has a cavity, is chipped, or needs an existing filling replaced. Usually the area being treated is numbed and the cavity or existing filling is removed. Then the composite material is placed and polished. Following a filling placement, it is normal to experience slight sensitivity or tenderness in that tooth; however, sensitivity will gradually disappear. Please note, no filling is considered “permanent” and may need to be replaced over time.
Tooth bonding
A tooth bonding procedure involves using the tooth-colored composite resin filling material mentioned above and adding it to the desired tooth or teeth. Tooth bonding is used to correct small chips, close small spaces, or change the shape of the teeth. Bonding is not permanent and may need to be periodically replaced over time.
Tooth re-contouring
Tooth re-contouring requires a dental hand piece and polishing instruments to selectively remove enamel to reshape the desired tooth or teeth to have a more aesthetic appearance. Re-contouring can be used to smooth out small chips on the edges of the front teeth or reshape the teeth by squaring or rounding the edges.