Composite Fillings
Marysville, WA
 If your tooth is mild to moderately damaged, Tania Tran, DMD at Grove Street Family Dentistry will place a filling on it to repair it. A composite filling is a tooth-colored filling that is made of powdered glass and resin and is used to fix decayed or worn down teeth. The material used in a composite filling is also used to make other dental restorations like veneers, dental bonding, inlays, and dental crowns.
Who Should Get Composite Fillings?
You should get composite fillings if:
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The damage to your teeth is minimal and you want your teeth to retain their natural look.
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You have metal allergies and cannot tolerate metal or amalgam fillings.
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You want to minimize scaling and preserve the health of your teeth.
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You have chipped or worn out teeth.
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You need to close a gap between two teeth. |
To find out if composite fillings are right for you, you should get a consultation from Tania Tran, DMD.
Differences Between a Composite and Amalgam Filling
Composite fillings are made of composite resin and match the color of your natural teeth. They are also better for your tooth health as they preserve the natural structure of the tooth by bonding tightly to it. They are also good for people who have metal allergies and cannot tolerate amalgam fillings. However, composite fillings also take more time to place and are weaker than metal fillings.
Amalgam fillings, on the other hand, are composed of an alloy of silver and base metals. Because of the nature of metal, amalgam fillings are very durable and can last for over a decade. They are one of the most common types of fillings and are quite affordable as well.
However, because of their metallic color, most people do not prefer to use them on their front or visible teeth. Hence, you will see that they are most commonly found on molars and premolars.
What Happens Once I Get a Composite Fillings
Once your composite filling is placed, you will be able to resume your normal activities. Since the filling is hardened using a special curing light during the procedure, there are not many special guidelines you need to follow, though you may be asked not to eat anything until the numbness from the anesthesia passes.
Some people may experience sensitivity when the repaired tooth comes in contact with hot or cold food. This is a normal occurrence and should resolve itself in a week. If it doesn’t, you can call our office for further consultation.
How Durable are Composite Fillings?
Composite fillings can last for about 5 years, but with good care, you can extend their life for about 7 to 10 years. However, after that, you will need to replace them.
To get your composite filling to last for a long time, you should observe good oral hygiene, dietary habits and lifestyle habits. That means you should brush and floss your teeth every day properly, do not eat very hard or sticky food, and do not bite your nails or chew on pencil stubs.
How Do I Know When It is Time to Replace My Composite Filling?
You should replace or repair your composite fillings before it falls out on its own. To do that, you should make sure you keep all your routine dental appointments that will allow us to monitor the health of your natural teeth and restorations and fix any damage we see.
If we think your composite filling needs to be replaced, we will remove it with special dental instruments and place a new filling in the cavity. If your filling needs only to be repaired, we will add layers of composite resin material to it to fix any cracks and chips.
For molars, we recommend that you get your filling repaired to prevent further loss of natural tooth structure.
If you think you need a composite filling, schedule a consultation with Tania Tran, DMD at Grove Street Family Dentistry today by calling us at (360) 659-3200.
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