Dental decay is a very common oral health problem that both children and adults experience. Basically, a cavity is a hole in your tooth enamel caused by the corrosive action of oral bacteria that thrive on plaque and tartar. Previously, dentists used only amalgam, or metal, filling material to repair a cavity, but now you and your family dentist in Bellmore and Bayside, NY have a great alternative: the tooth-colored filling. The dental team at Silverman & Associates University Dental Family Dentistry use natural-looking composite resin to restore decay and leave smiles strong and healthy.

Do you need a filling?

If you do, you may not know it. However, some patients experience a sharp pain when they bite down on a decaying tooth, or the tooth can be sensitive to heat, cold or sugary foods.

Fortunately, your family dentist in Bayside can see cavities by examining your teeth or with X-rays. Whatever the diagnostic tool, your family dentist will remove the decayed portions of your tooth and fill the remaining space with a strong and realistic material called composite resin.

How does composite resin work?

Most tooth-colored fillings are made from this innovative blend of glass and acrylic. Some larger fillings--called inlays and onlays-- may be created from dental grade porcelain.

To restore a cavity, your Bellmore and Bayside family dentist removes the decayed tooth enamel. When the dentist employs composite resin, they actually remove less healthy enamel than he would if he were restoring the tooth with amalgam. Amazingly, composite resin bonds right to the tooth, actually becoming part of it. Your dentist adds the composite to the prepared tooth layer by layer, hardening each one with a special curing light. This process makes the restoration exceptionally strong. Also, the dentist ensures the finished filling bites together properly with the teeth in the opposite arch.

Do tooth-colored fillings last?

Most studies show that with good at-home and in-office hygiene, tooth-colored fillings serve patients well most anywhere in the mouth, and these restorations last an average of seven to ten years or more. Plus, composite resin proves to be gentler on remaining tooth enamel because this synthetic material behaves much like real enamel. Its flexibility allows it to move with the physical forces of biting, chewing and clenching.

Also, while it is worth noting that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) deems old-style amalgam fillings safe, most dentists and their patients prefer the aesthetics and versatility of composite resin fillings. They can be placed anywhere in the mouth and are unnoticeable.

Do you have questions?

If you are concerned about the health of a tooth or have questions about what tooth-colored fillings could do for your smile, please contact a family dentist at Silverman & Associates University Dental Family Dentistry in Bellmore and Bayside, NY for an appointment. Call (718) 225-0515.