Tooth-Colored Fillings Castle Rock, CO
Since most of us will have a cavity at some point during our lives, Oakwood Dental dentists Dr. Brandt Jones has opted to provide esthetic tooth-colored fillings to protect the appearance of your smile.
Benefits of Tooth-Colored Fillings
Composite tooth-colored fillings offer a number of benefits over old-fashioned amalgam (metal) fillings.
Seamless appearance – Composite comes in a wide range of colors so we can make an accurate match to the shade of your teeth.
Conservative treatment – Unlike amalgam fillings, composite fillings do not require the dentist to remove healthy tooth structure. Composite adheres to your teeth, so we only need to remove damage or decay.
Stability – Composite fillings do not expand and contract with changes in temperature because they are free of metals.
Patient preference – Even though research has not uncovered any ill-effects from amalgam fillings, many patients simply prefer to avoid mercury and metal.
BPA-free – We use BPA-free composite material. Composite consists of microscopic glass particles and plastic.
Tooth-Colored Filling Treatment – What to Expect
Dr. Jones is known for his gentle treatment style. It is one of the things that our patients appreciate most. Not every filling requires you to have anesthetic, but if it does, we will always make sure you are completely comfortable before we begin treatment.
Our dentists will remove all signs of decay from your tooth and thoroughly sterilize the area to prepare it for your composite. We will choose a color that blends perfectly. Since composite does not whiten the same as your natural enamel, you may choose to complete professional teeth whitening prior to your restorative dentistry.
We will use a product that will allow your tooth and filling to bond effectively before beginning to apply composite in layers. In between placing each layer, we will harden the previous layer with a special curing light.
Once we completely fill your cavity, we will cure it and polish the surface to a natural-looking shine. No one will know that you have a filling.
Cosmetic Dental Bonding
Composite offers versatility, and we often use it to make small repairs to our patients’ smiles. If you have chips, gaps, or wear, composite bonding provides non-invasive treatment options that give you great results.
Composite works best for small issues. If you have severely worn or damaged teeth, we may recommend an alternate restoration for better results.
Contact Our Castle Rock Dental Office
If you are ready to get your smile on track and address some of the oral health issues you are experiencing, just give us a call! We currently welcome new patients of all ages and value our role in the health of the Castle Rock community.
Dr. Brandt Jones is a Colorado native. He grew up in Denver, where he attended John F. Kennedy High School. He received his Bachelor of Science degree from Brigham Young University in 2001 and graduated with honors from the University of Colorado in 2005, receiving his DDS degree.
Advanced Dental Training
Since he began practicing dentistry, Dr. Jones has completed hundreds of hours of continuing education courses, ensuring that his patients receive the most comprehensive and advanced dental care available. Dr. Jones received the title "Best of the Best" in Douglas County …
Silver or amalgam fillings have been around for quite a long time and many dentists still use amalgam for fillings today. At Oakwood Dental, we use composite resin tooth-colored fillings instead of amalgam fillings. Amalgam fillings are made with a combination of mercury, silver, copper, tin and other trace metals which are all mixed together to form an alloy and then packed into a prepared tooth. Amalgam fillings are not bonded to your teeth the way composite fillings are, therefore they do not strengthen teeth that have been weakened by chipping or decay that has caused a loss of healthy tooth structure. Over time, the amalgam filling will expand and contract with hot and cold foods, which can lead to fractures in the surrounding tooth structure, inviting decay and further damage in the tooth. At Oakwood Dental, we only use composite restorations for fillings because we can complete the restoration with a more conservative and esthetically pleasing result.
When to Replace an Amalgam Filling
With the heightened public concern about the safety of amalgam, the question often arises of whether or not amalgam fillings should be replaced with the more composite fillings. Dr. Jones does not advise changing any old amalgam fillings with composite ones unless there are specific reasons that warrant the replacement. Signs of chipping, cracking, decay, or poor margins are all good reasons to replace any type of filling. If you are concerned about your silver fillings due to health or esthetic concerns, Dr. Jones can let you know your treatment options so you can decide what is best for you.
As much as our Oakwood Dental patients may practice regular at-home oral healthcare like daily brushing and flossing alongside routine dental check-ups, cavities can still occur. Tooth decay is widespread and prevalent, and thankfully it's a simple procedure to fix. In fact, the whole process is painless, effective, and quick.
At our Castle Rock dental office, we use tooth-colored fillings to clear your tooth of any decay and seal it from additional harmful bacteria coming back. Understanding the process can help patients feel comfortable when they have to undergo a dental …