Tooth-Coloured Fillings: A Cavity Solution with Aesthetic Appeal

When tooth decay has damaged your enamel, but the damage isn’t significant enough to require a root canal or crown, Drs. Yohannes Melkie, Cristina Rodrigo, and Alan Chan will suggest a tooth-coloured filling. Our dental fillings are created from composite resin — a life-looking material that restores your tooth structure without ruining its aesthetics.

At Stoneycreek Village Dental in Fort McMurray, Alberta, we specialize in composite fillings to repair decayed and mildly damaged teeth. Should you have a troublesome tooth, don’t hesitate to schedule an appointment with our doctors.

The simple and painless composite filling procedure

Whether you have one or several cavities, our team will easily treat them using composite fillings in just one visit. Once we establish a tooth filling is all you need to fix your tooth, we’ll numb your mouth to eliminate any discomfort. Then, the dentist will carefully remove the decayed or damaged portion before filling the void left with composite resin.

Next, we’ll reshape the composite filling to match the shape and grooves of your tooth, after which we’ll use a special light to harden the material. We’ll then reshape the filling until you achieve a natural bite. Before you leave, we’ll polish your tooth to achieve a natural-looking finish.

After cavity treatment, you can go straight to your everyday activities. However, you should refrain from chewing or consuming hot foods or drinks for about two hours until the anesthesia wears off. Otherwise, you risk biting or burning your soft tissues.

Benefits of white fillings

Dental fillings used to be made using amalgam – a mixture of metals like nickel, zinc, silver, and mercury. The material was noticeable whenever smiling or talking, and the traces of mercury in the filling can be toxic to humans. Today, many dentists have ditched silver-coloured fillings for safer, beautiful-looking composite ones. 

Dentists and patients alike love composite fillings because of the reasons below.

• Discreet treatment —tooth-coloured fillings seamlessly match your natural teeth for undetectable dental work
• Conservative procedure— we only remove a small portion of your tooth structure when using composite resin
• Safety —unlike metal fillings, white fillings don’t contain toxic substances
• Better protection — composite material bonds securely with the tooth to offer maximum protection
• Resistance to temperature changes — white fillings are properly insulated from thermal stresses, remaining intact even when consuming cold or hot drinks and foods. Metal fillings contract and expand when temperatures change, which can crack your tooth

How long do composite fillings last?

White fillings can last as many as eight years, but this depends on many factors, including your oral hygiene, dietary choices, and the location of the filling in the mouth. The good news is that many of these factors are within your control. 

Want to ensure your filling lasts many years? Observe the tips below.

• Brush and floss your teeth diligently every day
• Use a dentist-directed mouthwash
• Limit the intake of sugary and acidic foods
• Wear a mouthguard if you brux your teeth
• Avoid smoking to avoid staining your restoration
• Schedule an appointment with your dentist every six months

A cavity won’t get any better. Instead, it will grow deeper, and soon, it could cost you a tooth. 

Call (780) 666-7327 to schedule an appointment with Stoneycreek Village Dental for effective cavity treatment. You can also book your appointment online.

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