Composite fillings are popular restorative cements that are useful for mild to moderate dental cavities. These fillings offer several benefits over traditional amalgam restorations since they are aesthetically superior and strongly bond with the tooth enamel.
Composite fillings offered by the family dentist in Philadelphia, PA help rehabilitate your oral health through a cascade of benefits.
Comprehensive guide to composite fillings
A composite filling is a type of dental material, made of a plastic resin and mixed with a powdered glass filler. The filling is placed within the cleaned and prepared tooth surface, and hardened by a light-cured special glue. The material hardens through a process called polymerization. These aesthetic fillings help restore tooth structure lost due to caries, cracks, or fractures. They act as excellent alternatives to traditional amalgam restorations.
Uses of composite fillings:
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Exploring some surprising benefits of composite fillings
Composite fillings offer the following benefits when used for teeth with mild to moderate dental decay:
- Aesthetically superior: Composite fillings are tooth-colored restorations and easily blend with your natural tooth structure offering superior aesthetics.
- Directly bond to the tooth enamel: Composite fillings bond directly to the enamel surface, thus establishing a stronger seal.
- Does not contain mercury: Mercury is toxic and can be harmful to the body when ingested. Composite fillings do not contain mercury, unlike amalgam restorations.
- Preserve the tooth structure: Composite fillings do not require extensive tooth preparation. This preserves most of the tooth structure and its overall strength, and resilience.
- Acts as a shield against dental caries: Composite fillings contain fluorides that help prevent the development of caries in the future.
- Are stain-resistant: The resin present in composite filling does not stain the teeth, thereby making it stain-resistant.
- Offers excellent durability and strength: The composite material hardens through polymerization, which improves the strength and resilience of composites.
- Quick procedure: Composite fillings are quick and painless procedures that usually take 10 to 15 minutes.
Composite fillings are tooth-colored, durable restorations that are increasingly popular among dentists. They offer a cascade of benefits that increase their popularity and thus offer a successful replacement to amalgam restorations. Consult your dentist for further queries and evaluation.
