Natural-Looking Tooth-Colored Fillings in Westbury, NY
Cavities are tooth holes created by untreated decay. When they worsen, the holes expand to the soft center of the teeth, causing pain and sensitivity. They also badly affect the appearance of your smile. To help treat your dental cavities, Smallberg & Satornino, DDS, PLLC offers tooth-colored fillings in Westbury, NY.
What are Tooth-colored Fillings?
Fillings are used to remove decay and replace the affected tooth structure. They are called fillings because new material fills the hole that decays left. Our dental office treats dental cavities with tooth-colored fillings made from composite resin.
Tooth-colored fillings blend in better with the surrounding teeth and appear more natural than amalgam fillings, which are darker and more obvious to others. Composite fillings are made of ceramic and plastic components that chemically bond to teeth. Aside from cavities, fillings can also help repair broken or chipped teeth.
If caught early enough, cavities can be treated easily and painlessly. If not treated, decay can lead to tooth pain and/or infection, requiring root canal treatment or extraction.
What if your cavity is too big for a filling? Do you need a crown?
Some teeth are not good candidates for fillings due to too many teeth missing from decay or a large, older filling that needs replacement. If this is the case and the situation is not severe enough to require a crown, then an onlay can be placed.
An onlay looks like a large filling made in a dental lab. The doctor takes an impression of your tooth and sends it to a lab. You go home with a temporary material in your tooth and return for a second appointment to have your onlay cemented to the tooth.
Drs. Smallberg and Satornino usually use Emax onlays, one of the most cosmetic materials used in dentistry. The advantage of the onlay is that it is stronger than a tooth-colored filling and preserves more tooth structure than a crown.
Benefits of Tooth-Colored Fillings
- Natural Appearance – Tooth-colored fillings that match the color of your natural teeth. Because they blend naturally, no one can tell you had a cavity filled.
- Fast Treatment – Getting a tooth-colored filling is a quick and painless procedure. One or two cavities can be treated in less than an hour.
- Durability – Composite fillings can last more than ten years with good oral hygiene. Schedule a dental examination and cleaning every six months, floss daily, and brush your teeth twice daily.
- Conserve Tooth Structure – Composite fillings help preserve a larger portion of the tooth’s natural structure. The composite resin substance forms a chemical bond with the tooth’s surface like an adhesive.
- No Mercury – A tooth-colored filling is your best bet if you want to stay away from mercury, which can cause bad effects on your health when swallowed in certain amounts.
Restore Your Smile with Aesthetic Dental Fillings
Whether you have dental cavities, chipped teeth, or cracked teeth, tooth-colored fillings can help restore your oral health and brilliant smile. Smallberg & Satornino, DDS, PLLC offers composite fillings in Westbury, NC, and you can contact us if you need more information about these dental restorations.
Do you have any problems with your teeth? Smallberg & Satornino, DDS, PLLC can help you regain your healthy, confident smile. Contact us today for personalized dental care to enhance your oral health and aesthetic appeal.