Even people with perfectly healthy teeth usually know what a dental filling is. Given the fact that over 90% of adults have been affected by tooth decay, chances are most people at least know someone who has had to treat a cavity. Dental fillings are a restorative treatment that involves filling a cavity to restore the tooth’s health and ability to function. How well the filling works, how long it lasts, and how it blends in with your smile all depend on what the restoration is made from. Your Southlake dentists, Dr. Wright and Dr. Heron, prefer using white composite resin, which matches your tooth’s color and shade, rather than metal fillings that can contrast sharply with your natural smile.
The Beauty of Composite Resin
In dentistry, composite resin is a mixture of plastic and glass-like particles. Its unique composition gives the resin two distinct advantages over more traditional metal amalgam fillings; resin can be bonded to your tooth’s structure and tinted to match your tooth’s appearance. Adhering to the tooth’s surface provides a more effective barrier against future tooth decay, and the ability to customize the resin’s color means your restoration won’t stand out when you smile. These traits also make resin a common choice for minor cosmetic touchups (known as dental bondings), such as fixing a chipped or cracked tooth, or improving the look of a severely stained/discolored tooth.
What is Your Filling Made Of?
Until recently, metal amalgam—a combination of silver, tin, copper, mercury, and other trace metals—was the material of choice for most dental fillings, and had been for over a hundred years. It should be no surprise, then, that most patients who’ve had one or more cavities when they were younger restored those cavities with metal fillings. As part of our dedication to providing high-quality care to all of our patients, Dr. Wright and Dr. Heron can remove old amalgam and replace it with tooth-colored composite resin for a better-looking and longer-lasting dental filling.
ABOUT YOUR SOUTHLAKE DENTISTS:
As a native Texan, Gregory Wright, DDS, opened his private practice in Southlake, TX in 1992. He and Dr. Victoria Heron are happily accepting new patients from Southlake, Grapevine, Keller, Trophy Club, Colleyville, and all surrounding communities. To learn more, call our office today at (817) 481-7999.
