What Everyone Should Know About Modern Fillings

Most people experience a cavity at least once in their life, and but fortunately, they can usually avoid serious tooth infection by treating their cavities with custom tooth fillings. Made to fill the cavity of a tooth after the decay has been removed from it, a filling helps simultaneously restore the tooth’s structure while also protecting it from further infection. Today, we take a look at modern tooth fillings and how they can successfully treat cavities better than the tooth fillings of the past.

They can be created to match your teeth
Until relatively recently, tooth fillings were most often created using a strong, biocompatible amalgam of metals, including mercury. Today, they are most often created from more lifelike, tooth-colored composite resin, which consists of finely ground acrylic and quartz-like particles. This resin can be customized and tinted to match the exact shade of your natural tooth color.

They can prevent more serious treatment
When you treat a cavity, the point is to stop the decay that caused it from growing worse. If it does, then it won’t be long before your tooth is in too much trouble for a filling to save it, and you may need root canal treatment or tooth extraction to save your smile. Treating your cavity with a filling as soon as possible helps you avoid the need for more extensive treatment.

They can improve your smile’s appearance
Because they mimic your tooth color and appearance, tooth-colored fillings have a very high cosmetic value. In some cases, the resin can even be used as a purely cosmetic solution for concealing discoloration, restoring chipped edges, and more. Known as cosmetic tooth bonding, the resin can restore your tooth’s healthy, youthful appearance quickly and effectively.

Fix Your Cavity Right with a Tooth-Colored Filling
Fillings have always been the de facto treatment for mild to moderate cavities, but today, they can do more for your smile and oral health than you may realize. To learn more, schedule a consultation by calling Oxnard Dentistry in Oxnard, CA, today at (805) 604-9999. We also proudly serve patients from in and around Camarillo, Ventura, Thousand Oaks, Moore Park, and all surrounding communities.