Franklin, TN
No matter how diligent you are about your oral hygiene and diet, the chances are that each of us will experience a cavity at some point in life. Data released by the National Center for Health Statistics found that 91% of all Americans had experienced tooth decay.
If you have a cavity, let your local restorative dentist in Franklin, Lee Palmer, DDS, repair the damage and protect your tooth by installing a beautiful composite filling.
Composite fillings and their benefits
Also referred to as a tooth-colored filling, this restoration is made of a filler material that is contained in an outer covering made of a composite resin. A filling is used to repair small to intermediate cavities and areas of decay.
A composite filling has several advantages, as compared to traditional metallic fillings made of dental amalgam.
Installation involves removing less of the existing tooth structure, as compared to the process to install an amalgam filling.
The exterior of a composite filling can be matched to the shape and shade of your other natural healthy teeth, making them almost indistinguishable in your mouth.
Less susceptible to damage due to the temperature changes that occur naturally in the mouth whenever you eat and drink. Amalgam fillings expand and contract at a more rapid rate due to these temperature changes, which can cause cracks, fractures or even total failure.
These fillings are metal-free. In addition to being the ideal treatment option for patients who suffer from a metal allergy, composite fillings also have no risk of mercury exposure from amalgam fillings, the composition of which may contain as much as 50% mercury.
The office of Lee Palmer, DDS, also can install a composite filling to replace older dental work.
What can I expect from a filling procedure?
In most cases, a composite filling can be installed during a single appointment.
Once a local anesthetic has been applied to the area being treated, your local Thompson Station dentist removes the cavity itself and any tooth structure that has sustained damage. The tooth is cleaned thoroughly and prepared with a special adhesive. The composite resin will be applied to the hole in your tooth left by the now-removed cavity and will be sculpted into your tooth. Once in place, the filling is bonded directly to your tooth thanks to the adhesive.
If a composite filling is being placed as a replacement for older dental work, your dentist should examine the tooth to see if any additional damage has been sustained since the initial restoration was placed. You may need a larger restoration, such as an inlay/onlay or a crown, to fully repair the tooth.
Dental Fillings in Franklin, Thompson Station and Leipers Fork in Tennessee
No one wants a cavity, but if you get one, treatment is key. Otherwise, the area of decay will grow, potentially causing more problems to your tooth or even compromising your oral wellness. To learn more about our composite fillings, or any of the other treatment methods for tooth decay that are available at Lee Palmer, DDS, call our office today at (615) 794-057 or contact us online to schedule a consultation.