How Cosmetic Fillings Restore Your Teeth

Cosmetic fillings don't just look more attractive than silver amalgam fillings but also offer several important benefits for your smile. Dr. Hanne Hollenbeck in Murrysville, PA discusses the advantages of the fillings.

What are cosmetic fillings?

Cosmetic fillings are made of composite resin, a flexible material that's composed of powdered glass and plastic. The material is tinted to resemble the shade of your tooth enamel and is soft and flexible when it's added to your tooth. Exposing the filling to a curing light for a few minutes makes it as hard as tooth enamel.

How can cosmetic fillings help my smile in Murrysville?

Cosmetic fillings offer several benefits that make them an excellent choice, including:

• Appearance: Unlike silver amalgam fillings, cosmetic fillings blend in with your tooth enamel. You'll never have to worry about revealing your dental work when you laugh or talk.
• Lower Crack Risk: Silver amalgam fillings are made of a mixture of metals that react to temperature extremes. Every time you take a bite of hot pizza, followed by a sip of ice-cold water, your amalgam fillings expand, then contract. Years of expansion and contraction can put your tooth at risk of cracking. Because composite resin doesn't react to temperature changes, the cracking reduce is greatly reduced.
• More Healthy Structure Retained: Ensuring that no decay remains in your tooth requires removing a little bit of healthy tooth structure along with the decayed portion. Unfortunately, the larger the amount of healthy structure, the weaker your tooth becomes. Cosmetic fillings only require removal of a small amount of healthy tooth structure, which keeps your filled tooth stronger.
• No Worries About Color Changes: Large silver amalgam fillings can make your teeth look dark. When you receive a cosmetic filling tinted to match your tooth color, darkening isn't a problem.
• Improved Strength: Applying a curing light to your filling not only hardens it but also bonds it to your tooth, strengthening it.

Cosmetic fillings strengthen and restore your smile. If you're concerned about a toothache or want to replace a silver amalgam filling, schedule an appointment for this important family dentistry service by calling Murrysville, PA, dentist, Dr. Hollenbeck, at (724) 327-3080.