For years, restorative dentistry has used the same basic dental materials to repair teeth damaged by cavities. Though amalgam dental fillings have long been thought of as the most long lasting form of cavity repair, new evidence is pointing to the contrary.
One of the primary reasons that many individuals avoid amalgam dental fillings is esthetics. We live in a time when a great deal of importance is placed on appearance, and the smile is given a lot of attention. The look of the smile has been proven so vital, in fact, that it is recognized as an asset in personal and professional settings. Amalgam fillings may repair the hole created by oral bacteria, but will leave a dark spot in the repaired tooth that is difficult to ignore.
As an alternative to dental amalgam, the team at Esquire Dental Centres offers bonded fillings to patients from Pickering and surrounding areas. Bonded fillings are made from composite resin, a material that we can color match to natural tooth enamel for a seamless, beautiful look. When teeth are repaired with composite resin fillings, there is no evidence of a corrected dental problem at all.
In addition to providing an aesthetically pleasing result, fillings made with composite resin offer a number of other advantages:
- Unlike amalgam fillings, composite resin fillings are bonded to tooth structure. Because they are not held in place within tooth structure, these fillings can be placed without removing excess tooth material. Because more tooth structure is preserved with composite resin fillings, this form of treatment is more conservative.
- The bonding of composite resin into cavities can actually strengthen the treated tooth. Because the seams surrounding the cavity are sealed in the bonding process, there is less of a chance of further cavities beneath the filling. Amalgam material expands and contracts, which can loosen the seams and allow bacteria inside.
- The expansion and contraction of amalgam can, as well, lead to fractures over time. Composite resin expands and contracts similarly to natural enamel, and therefore poses far less of a risk.
We provide our patients with care that will preserve natural beauty and improve oral health. For your appointment, contact us in North York, Pickering, or Scarborough.
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