Fillings

Fillings for Dental Cavities

At some point, most of us develop a cavity in our teeth. A cavity is a bacterial infection that causes tooth decay or damage. Your dentist removes the decay and fills the tooth to restore it. Dental technology has improved greatly in recent years, offering better treatment options. If you haven’t had a cavity recently, below are the available treatment choices.

Composite Resin Fillings

Tooth fillings colored to look like a natural tooth are known as “Composite Resin Dental Fillings” and are made of a plastic dental resin.  There are no known health risks for receiving composite fillings. Composite resin dental fillings were created as an alternative to traditional metal dental fillings.  Composite resin dental fillings are strong, durable, and make for a very natural-looking smile.  Many dental insurance plans cover their use.

Amalgam Fillings

Amalgam or “mercury/silver” fillings contain mercury and are often referred to as metal fillings. Their safety has been in question for a number of years due to concerns over the absorption of elemental mercury contributing to several diseases, including Alzheimer’s, multiple sclerosis, dementia, and arthritis. The FDA investigations have not proven that the minute amount of mercury vapors released from silver fillings is a health hazard. Amalgam fillings are a mixture of mercury liquid and small pieces of silver and other metals such as copper, tin, and zinc. Studies released in 2009 and endorsed by the American Dental Association verified the safety of “mercury/silver fillings” as a restorative material.

Dr. Schick does not use amalgam or mercury fillings anymore because there are qualities about the composite – resin fillings that he prefers. His goal is to always do the best restorative work possible that will last a long time with proper care.

Inlays and Onlays

If over half of your molar tooth’s biting surface is decayed or fractured an inlay or onlay may be a better option than a filling. These options are basically for when more than a filling is needed but less than a crown will do. An inlay is placed in between the cusps of the tooth, whereas an onlay will cover one or more of the cusps. They can be made of a gold alloy, porcelain or tooth-colored resin and are cemented into place.

Who is a Candidate for Tooth-Colored Composite Resin Fillings?

If you have a cavity in a tooth, broken fillings, mercury/silver (amalgam) fillings,  this type of dental filling is well worth discussing with your dentist. Mercury/silver fillings or amalgam fillings can easily be removed and replaced with far more attractive tooth-colored fillings.

Composite resins may also be used to enhance the appearance of any tooth, which is a tooth bonding procedure.

How are composite resin fillings accomplished?

Dr. Schick will give you a local anesthetic to numb the treatment area. Next, he prepares access and removes the decayed portions of the tooth. He uses a composite filling to preserve more natural tooth structure by bonding layers. If decay is close to a nerve, he applies a special liner to protect it.

He uses dental material to open dentin pores and roughen enamel surfaces for bonding. Then, he applies a bonding resin that flows easily and bonds composite to tooth. He hardens this layer with a curing light to strengthen the bond.

Dr. Schick applies composite resin in thin layers, curing each with a dental light. Once the filling is complete, he uses articulating paper to adjust your bite. Finally, he polishes your composite filling and tooth for a smooth finish.

If a filling cannot protect your tooth, Dr. Schick may recommend a dental crown. This is common if enamel is thin, fragile, or the tooth had a root canal.