Composite Fillings
Clackamas, OR
Cavities affect the oral health of millions of individuals. Cavities are one of the most common health problems in the world. While commonly associated with children, anyone of any age can be affected. Approximately 91% of adults in the US have had a cavity in an adult tooth. Cavities are caused by tooth decay, which occurs when acids from plaque and bacteria can erode the protective outer layer of your teeth. This erosion causes spots of your tooth enamel to become weak, eventually leading to the formation of pits or cavities. When cavities form, Sunnyside Dentistry can provide treatment with composite fillings.
Why Do Cavities Need Treatment?When cavities form, getting treatment as soon as possible is essential. While the early stages of tooth decay can be reversed, cavities cannot. Once these small pits form, they create an ideal hiding place for bacteria that can be extremely difficult to keep clean. Bacteria in the cavities continue to eat away at your tooth, causing it to grow larger and deeper. The larger cavities become, the more the affected teeth become compromised. Cavities can also enter into the inner layers of your teeth, enabling bacteria to get inside and cause painful infections. Treating cavities with fillings helps to clean out cavities, prevent them from growing larger, and restore your oral health.
What are Composite Fillings?Traditionally, cavities have been treated with amalgam, or silver, fillings. These fillings are an incredibly strong material made up of a mixture of metals suspended in mercury. They can stand up to extremely hard biting and chewing forces. Despite their strength, amalgam fillings are called silver for a reason. Their bright silver color makes them aesthetically unpleasing and very undesirable for treating cavities in visible teeth. The metal and mercury content also raise concerns for many patients.
The fillings we provide are composite fillings. Composite fillings, or composite resin fillings, were developed as an alternative to traditional amalgam. They are metal and mercury-free material made up of plastic, fine glass, and other substances. The material is tooth-colored and can blend in perfectly with the rest of your natural tooth structure. For this reason, they are particularly ideal for treating cavities in visible teeth. While not as strong as amalgam, they are still fairly strong and able to withstand most normal daily use.
The Benefits of Composite FillingsComposite fillings provide several significant benefits. | • |
The composite material is tooth colored, providing you with an aesthetic solution for cavities.
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Once cured, the material is fairly strong, and can stand up to most normal daily use.
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Composite resin bonds with your natural tooth structure. This means that less of your natural tooth structure needs to be removed when removing decay and preparing the tooth for the fillings.
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The composite resin material does not contain any metal or mercury. This makes composite fillings an ideal alternative for patients who have allergies to metals as well as for those who have concerns about the use of amalgam. |
If you suspect a cavity in your teeth, it is important to get treatment right away. If you're concerned that your cavity has progressed even further and you may need a dental crown, a root canal, or dental implant, reach out to us as well. For more information on composite fillings and to schedule your consultation, call Sunnyside Dentistry at (503) 451-5104 today. |
