Find out how a simple dental filling can fully restore your tooth after a cavity.
Most of us at some point during our lifetime will be confronted with decay. While every bit of decay doesn't necessarily require a restorative
treatment, it is important that you continue seeing our Milton, MA, family dentists (Drs. John & Patrick Murphy) and endodontist (Dr. Natalie Shlosman) for routine checkups every six months. After all, it’s during these checkups that we can decide whether the decay requires a dental filling or not.
What are dental fillings?
Dental fillings are the gold standard when it comes to repairing teeth that have been affected by decay. The purpose of a dental filling is to fill in the areas of the tooth that have been drilled away in order to restore and strengthen the tooth. While dental fillings can be made from a variety of material (e.g. metal amalgam or gold) the majority of the time, our Milton, MA, family dentist usually places tooth-colored fillings made from composite resin, a material that bears a remarkable resemblance to tooth enamel.
What are the benefits of tooth-colored fillings?
While all dental fillings are designed for the same purpose of rebuilding a tooth after decay, a tooth-colored filling, as you might imagine, offers some unique advantages. One benefit is that this composite resin filling can be matched to the color of your tooth prior to being applied, making it impossible to see once it’s been hardened to the tooth. This is the only type of filling that will truly blend right in with the tooth.
Furthermore, our restorative dentists will also bond the filling directly to the tooth. As a result, this ensures that the areas of the tooth that were once weakened by decay are now strong again and resistant to wear. With the proper care, tooth-colored fillings can last more than five years before needing to be replaced.
If you currently have metal fillings, you can also come into our office to have these metal fillings replaced with composite resin to improve its appearance.
Interested? Give us a call
Do you have questions about tooth-colored fillings or other treatment options we offer in Milton, MA? Do you need to schedule your routine dental cleaning? Whatever the case may be, our family dentists are here to meet your needs—dial (617) 696-3900 today.