Composite Fillings For Restored, Natural Looking Teeth
Even patients with impeccable dental hygiene may experience tooth decay in their lifetime, but fillings are an effective solution. Fillings can seal openings in your teeth to prevent further decay. They can also eliminate the need for more invasive, costly procedures such as extraction or root canal therapy and help prevent health issues related to tooth loss.
Unfortunately, traditional metal fillings are easy to notice, may darken your teeth, can conduct electric currents, and increase sensitivity to hot and cold temperatures. Today, advancements in dental technology have led to the development of tooth-colored fillings, also called composite fillings. With composite fillings, our dentist, Dr. Ramirez can discreetly fill cavities and save your natural teeth.
What Are Composite Fillings?
Composite fillings are made out of materials such as glass, quartz, and resin that can be customized to match the shape and color of your natural teeth. Like metal fillings such as silver (amalgam)and gold fillings, a composite filling can seal a cavity to preserve and strengthen a tooth.
The materials used in composite fillings give them a number of advantages over traditional metal fillings. Some of those advantages include:
- Non Conductive — Composite fillings remove the chance of galvanic shock, an electric current passing between your teeth and shocking your mouth. This can occur when you have metal fillings of different compositions.
- Temperature Resistant — Unlike metal fillings, composite fillings barely expand or contract when they come into contact with hot and cold. This puts less stress on your tooth, reducing pain and sensitivity.
- Natural Appearance — Your composite fillings will be shaped and colored to match the appearance of your natural teeth and won’t darken over time, making them a more attractive option in the long run.
- Preserve More Enamel — Composite fillings require less of the natural tooth to be removed than metal fillings.
- Sets in Seconds — Composite fillings are cured with a handheld blue light, meaning you won’t have to wait hours for them to fully set. You can leave the office and immediately eat and drink what you want.
- Replace Metal Fillings — Even if you already have metal fillings, our skilled dentists can use advanced techniques to quickly and completely switch them out for natural looking composite fillings.
Getting Composite Fillings
Your tooth-colored composite fillings can be placed in one appointment at our San Luis Obispo office.
Your Consultation
Before you get your composite fillings, you’ll have a consultation with Dr. Ramirez. During your consultation, Dr. Ramirez will examine your mouth, discuss your medical history, and go over your dental health goals. With the information she gathers, Dr. Ramirez will determine your candidacy for composite fillings.
Preparation For Your Composite Filling
At your next appointment, we’ll numb your tooth using a local anesthetic. Then, Dr. Ramirez will clean out all decayed and infected material to make room for the filling and prevent further damage.
Placing Your Composite Filling
Composite resin will be applied in layers to fill the empty space. Between resin applications, Dr. Ramirez will use a blue light to cure the resin, hardening it within seconds.
Your resin will be smoothed and polished to match your natural tooth. You’ll leave our office with your new, discreet filling and a stronger smile the same day.
Frequently Asked Questions
Composite fillings can last up to a decade with proper dental care and routine visits to our San Luis Obispo practice. If your filling becomes damaged, call our San Luis Obispo office at (805) 549-8483 as soon as possible. We’ll evaluate your filling and if needed, it can be easily repaired by Dr. Ramirez and her team.
While your filling will help prevent further decay by preventing bacteria from entering your teeth through cavities, it will remain a necessity for you to practice proper dental hygiene. That means you’ll still need to brush your teeth for two minutes twice a day, floss once a day, rinse after meals, and see Dr. Ramirez at least twice a year for routine dental exams.
Rest assured that at the office of Dr. Ramirez, we do our utmost to ensure your comfort and safety. We’ll make sure your anesthetic is working before your procedure to ensure a pain-free experience.
Composite fillings provide better protection against pain and sensitivity than metal fillings, but some discomfort after your procedure is normal. These sensations can be easily treated with over-the-counter pain medication and tend to fade on their own after a few days.
If you experience pain and sensitivity lasting more than three days, contact our San Luis Obispo office by dialing (805) 549-8483 to schedule an appointment or fill out our appointment request form.
Composite fillings harden on the spot and don’t require dietary restrictions to ensure they set properly. However, Dr. Ramirez suggests that you wait until your anesthetic wears off, or at least two hours, before eating again so you don’t bite down too hard and unknowingly damage your lips, tongue, or gums.
Composite Fillings Can Strengthen & Beautify Your Smile
With tooth-colored composite fillings, you can prevent the need for extraction while discreetly protecting your teeth from further decay. Whether you’re looking to fill a cavity or replace a metal filling, Dr. Ramirez and her team in San Luis Obispo, CA can provide strong, beautiful restorations in the form of composite fillings.
Learn more about the beauty and functionality of tooth-colored composite fillings. Schedule a consultation with Dr. Ramirez by dialing (805) 549-8483 or request an appointment by clicking the button below.
