White Fillings
At Eagle Rock Dental Care we perform what is known as “White Fillings”. This is a composite filling made up of a tooth-colored plastic and glass mixture. White Fillings are used to restore the damage done by tooth decay or even to reshape disfigured teeth or whiten teeth.
The composite (white filling) is placed in layers inside the area that has decayed over time. Each layer is added and then hardened using a light specialized for hardening this composite. Your dentist will then shape the composite filling to look and feel natural. This will allow for you to continue brushing and flossing like normal without noticing the filling. Finally, the filling is polished to prevent staining or early wear.
White Fillings are a great way to protect your teeth while keeping their natural shape and color for your comfort.
4 Things You Should Know About Fillings
Fillings aren’t perfect, and it can be a real pain when something goes wrong. Keeping yourself educated can help you to make your fillings last longer, and hopefully, prevent the need for new fillings. Here are a few of the things everyone should know about dental fillings:
1) Fillings Don’t Last Forever
In fact, the average lifespan of a filling is about 12 years. In my experience, 12 years seems a little generous. They say that teeth are stronger than bones, and you better believe we put that to the test every day. As nice as it would be, fillings just aren’t as strong as our teeth. Because of this, even our normal eating habits prove to be too much for the composite bond and eventually will wear it down.
2) Problems with Fillings Require URGENT Attention
Don’t you dare put this off. If you notice sensitivity or unusual texture/roughness of a filling call your dentist as soon as possible. Cracks or lifts in fillings are exposing an already sensitive area to saliva and debris. If you don’t jump at this issue you could be looking at some much more serious dental procedures…dare I say it- the dreaded root canal. Do yourself a favor and let your dentist know as soon as you detect a problem.
3) Fillings Require a Little Extra TLC
Now, I’m not suggesting that you drastically change your diet and oral hygiene routine. I only suggest that you keep in mind that your teeth can handle a lot more than your fillings. Hard or acidic foods can damage your pearly whites and they can do even more damage to a repaired tooth. If you have a filling on your left side, consider chewing your corn nuts on the right. Use a toothpaste with fluoride and make sure you let your dentist know of any sensitivities you might have.
4) Fillings are NOT a Guaranteed Protection
Too many of us think that as soon as a tooth is repaired with a filling that it will never bother us again. Oh, how I wish that were true! But again, (as if I haven’t said it enough) fillings are not a substitute for natural teeth! Though long-term, fillings are not permanent and they sure aren’t perfect. However, with the proper care, they do protect a great deal. Find out more here.
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