Guard Your Smile Against Cavities With Dr. Chirco
Even the smallest cavities can jeopardize your whole-body wellness. That’s why, at Warren Family Dentistry, our dentists in Warren, MI, dedicate themselves to creating exceptional dental healthcare for every patient who walks through our doors. Tooth-colored fillings are just one of the high-quality restorative dentistry services we offer that prevent the formation of cavities, keeping your mouth feeling and looking healthy.
Discover why tooth-colored fillings are ideal cavity protection for many patients in the article below. We proudly help the communities of Warren, Fraser, Eastpointe, and Madison Heights, MI.
What Are Tooth-Colored Fillings?
A tooth-colored filling, also known as a composite filling, is a dental restoration that uses a composite resin to fill in cavities, cracks, and chips in teeth. It’s matched with the color of the natural tooth, making it virtually invisible.
Tooth-colored fillings are an advanced solution that replaces silver (amalgam) fillings, providing a more natural look to your smile. Our composite filling material avoids toxic materials and metals to create a smooth tooth surface.
Why Choose Tooth-Colored Fillings at Warren Family Dentistry?
Fillings are a useful treatment option for more than just cavities. Our top dentist in Warren also uses them to repair tooth damage not caused by decay.
Tooth-colored composite fillings have several benefits over traditional metal fillings, including:
- Aesthetics: Fillings are matched to the color of the natural tooth, making them virtually invisible.
- Preventive: Fillings help patients stave off cavities and further damage to oral health.
- Consistency: Composite fillings don’t change shape or size with the temperature, unlike metal filling materials.
- Biocompatible: Fillings are safely created without mercury or other toxic substances.
The Tooth-Colored Fillings Process
Preparation
Our dental staff can place your fillings in just a single appointment at our Warren dental office. We’ll begin by thoroughly cleaning and examining your teeth, ensuring we don’t leave any harmful bacteria before we place your filling.
Treatment
After removing all plaque and tartar, Dr. Chirco may place a local anesthetic, depending on the depth and location of the cavity. She will then use a specialized dental drill to remove all decayed tissue from the tooth.
Placement
Placing the filling involves painting layers of the customized composite material onto your newly smoothed tooth. One of our dental professionals will use a curing light to solidify the material following each layer. Once all the layers have hardened and your tooth is sealed, our Warren dentist will finalize your treatment by shaping and smoothing the tooth for a comfortable bite. You’ll leave our office that day with a cavity-free smile that you’ll be proud to show off.
Tooth-Colored Filling Aftercare Instructions
Immediately after your tooth-colored filling appointment at our Warren dental office, Dr. Chirco will provide specific instructions for the next steps in caring for your fillings. Avoid eating and drinking for the first 30 minutes after your appointment. Our dentist may also recommend chewing on the other side of your mouth for a day to protect the new filling.
In the years after you receive a composite filling, you should ensure you maintain excellent oral health to extend the lifespan of your fillings. Read the following tips for how to care for your tooth-colored filling below:
- Brush twice daily with a soft-bristled toothbrush
- Floss once daily
- Rinse your mouth after meals with water or antibacterial mouthwash
- Visit our Warren dental office every six months
Frequently Asked Questions
Composite fillings can be used for small to medium-sized cavities but may not be suitable for larger ones. If your cavity is too large to treat with tooth-colored fillings, your dentist may recommend root canal therapy. A root canal treatment removes more of your tooth and is finalized using a dental crown instead of a filling.
While it depends on the individual insurance plan, many insurance plans will cover at least a portion of the cost of composite fillings. Be sure to review the details of your insurance plan before you receive any dental treatment. You can also ask your dentist for a cost breakdown for your procedure at the beginning of your appointment.
No, dentists design fillings using the patient’s tooth as a guide. The infected tissue is the only part of your tooth that will be removed. Once that’s filled using a custom composite material, your dentist will shape the filling around your natural tooth, smoothing the edges along the way.
Composite fillings are made of a mixture of glass or quartz filler and a resin binder, whereas amalgam fillings use metals, including mercury. These high-quality composite materials are safer for patients and more aesthetically appealing. Dentists have been relying on tooth-colored fillings to fill cavities for decades.
Stop Cavities From Wreaking Havoc at Warren Family Dentistry
At Warren Family Dentistry, our team prioritizes your oral hygiene by providing exceptional dental healthcare to all patients. One of the high-quality services offered is tooth-colored fillings, which not only improve the appearance of teeth but also prevent the formation of cavities to maintain a healthy and beautiful smile.
Schedule a dental appointment at our Warren office today by calling (586) 574-9500 or filling out our online contact form.