What Are the Advantages of Composite Tooth Fillings?

In the past, dentists in Turlock have used what is referred to as amalgam to fill cavities. However, recent advances in dental medicine have allowed our dentist near you to offer our patients a much better option for dental fillings: composite fillings. At Varani Smile, we are excited to educate our patients about the benefits of composite fillings.

The History of Dental Fillings

The choices for dental restoration materials were limited in the past. Amalgam fillings, which are a mixture of mercury, tin, copper, and silver, have been widely used by dentists for more than 1300 years.

However, there have been many disputes in the dental world over the safety of using amalgam fillings since they contain mercury. Until recently, amalgam fillings were favored by dentists due to their durability and ease of placement and preparation. However, despite this, amalgam fillings come with four central drawbacks:

1. They are not aesthetically pleasing and can stain or corrode teeth
2. They contract and expand, leading to cracks in teeth
3. They require the removal of healthy tooth structure
4. They can pose a serious risk to your overall health

Furthermore, there are concerns about how safe it is to have mercury in your mouth, as it has been found to have adverse effects on overall health and wellbeing. Amalgam fillings come with a concern about mercury poisoning, which can cause serious harm to your body, including nerve damage, kidney problems, insomnia, headaches, tremors, and more.

What Are Composite Fillings?

While some dental clinics still offer amalgam fillings, many dentists have vowed to stop using them because of their risks. The most commonly used filling type today is composite fillings in Turlock. Our team at Varani Smile prefers composite fillings because they are:

1. Durable
2. Easy to place
3. Matched to the color of natural teeth
4. Require little removal of healthy tooth structure
5. Bond easily and effectively to tooth enamel

Composite fillings near you are composed of powdered glass mixed with plastic, placed directly onto your tooth in layers before being shaped and polished to fit perfectly with your bite and blend seamlessly into your smile.

Generally, composite fillings are more durable than porcelain fillings and safer than amalgam fillings. Furthermore, our patients typically prefer composite fillings because they look just like natural teeth, and no one will be able to tell that they are there.

How Are Composite Fillings Placed?

When you visit Varani Smile for composite fillings, our dentist will begin by numbing the area around the affected tooth so that you do not feel any pain or discomfort during the procedure. They will then drill a small access hole into your tooth and remove any decay. Next, they will disinfect the area and place the composite filling material in the space. Finally, they will polish and buff the filling so that it fits comfortably in your mouth. The entire process should take under one hour and is completely painless.

Interested in Composite Fillings?

If you have tooth decay or cavities and are looking for composite fillings, then visit our team of dedicated dental professionals at Varani Smile today! We are happy to provide our patients with composite fillings to restore their smiles and prevent further tooth decay. Additionally, if you have amalgam fillings that you would like replaced with composite fillings, our team is happy to assist you. Please contact us to book your appointment today!