The Superiority of Tooth-Colored Dental Fillings

Throughout the course of a lifetime, there’s a good chance that each of us will need to have a cavity filled. Many of us will have to go through that experience multiple times in life. Given the state of today’s dental technology, it’s sometimes easy to forget that metal fillings were once the only option available to patients. Modern advances, however, have helped to ensure that patients now have access to a variety of different filling choices. For a variety of reasons, tooth-colored dental fillings are often the superior solution for many patients.

Filling that Cavity

Of course, most people understand why dental fillings are so important. When decay sets in, dentists need to intervene to prevent further damage to any affected teeth. Left untreated, that decay can worsen over time and even result in tooth loss and more severe dental concerns. Timely intervention removes the decay, preventing its spread. And that’s where fillings come in, to fill in an seal vacant areas in the tooth – restoring the shape and function of that tooth and offering renewed protection.

Choosing the Filling

We’ve already mentioned one of the filling options: metal. But many people are unaware that metal fillings can come in either amalgam or cast gold form. The former is among the most common type of fillings and was a go-to solution for dental patients for more than a hundred years. Amalgam contains several different metals – including things like silver, copper, and the familiar mercury that helps to bind the other metals together. Gold fillings are less common, since they are a more expensive and visibly noticeable option.

Tooth-colored fillings are exactly what the name suggests. This filling option is designed to be strong and durable, while blending more seamlessly with your natural tooth color. As you might expect, patients typically choose this option for aesthetic reasons. Like metal fillings, tooth-colored fillings can come in several forms – including porcelain ceramic materials and composite materials. The composite variety are more common, since they are considered stronger than many ceramic options.

Why Tooth-Colored Fillings are Superior

For most modern patients, tooth-colored fillings offer a host of advantages that make them superior to more traditional metal options. For example:

• Aesthetic beauty. Because these fillings match the color of your natural teeth, few will even know that they’re there.
• Most tooth-colored materials are designed to bond directly to the structure of the teeth, providing a more natural experience for most patients.
• Greater emotional satisfaction. With fillings that match your teeth, you won’t be as self-conscious about how your smile appears to others. When you flash that toothy grin, you’ll know that there’s no metal in sight.

If you need fillings, talk to your dentist about tooth-colored options to ensure that your smile is properly maintained. While they can cost a little more than those old amalgam fillings, the tooth-colored solutions will more than pay for themselves over time as you enjoy all the benefits that come from preserving your naturally beautiful smile.