Composite Fillings as a Dental Restoration for Decay

Composite resin fillings can be used as part of your dental restoration treatment for tooth decay. These composites are mixtures of plastics and glass and can be color-matched with the rest of a patient's teeth. This leads to better aesthetics because the repairs made do not look out of place, as is the case when silver amalgam fillings are used.

Composite resins are often used during dental restorations due to their versatility. They can be used to address a variety of issues caused by tooth decay, like cavities and damage to teeth structures. Composite resins can also be used to fix fractured, chipped and broken teeth.

Tooth decay is caused by bacteria that live in the mouth, creating acids that damage teeth enamel. These germs consume the sugars in food particles stuck on teeth and convert them into acids that eat away at teeth structures. Tooth decay typically starts with a small cavity forming on a tooth's outer layer, then the hole expands until it reaches the inner layer. It can leave the nerve and blood vessels in a tooth's pulp chamber exposed to acids that can irritate them and bacteria that can infect the area. The longer that a person waits before addressing tooth decay, the more complicated treating it becomes. The early stage only requires simple treatments like fluoride treatments and fillings, while the more severe stages might require root canal therapy or extraction.

How composite fillings are used during dental restoration treatments

The application of composite resin is a non-invasive procedure that does not require the removal of enamel. Anesthetics are often not used when using composite resins unless the dentist needs to remove decayed tooth material.

The process

Before applying composite resin, the dentist will prepare the patient's teeth with an etching solution. This roughens up the tooth's surfaces, allowing it to bond better with the composite. A local anesthetic might be administered before the dentist removes decayed material if a cavity is being treated.

The dentist then uses a color chart to select a composite that matches the patient's teeth. The composite is applied directly to the patient's tooth and molded as desired. The dentist then hardens it with a curing light. The process is repeated multiple times until the target result is achieved. The process takes about 45 minutes to treat a tooth with a cavity. Repairing a tooth with a composite resin only requires a single trip to the dentist.

Life after repairing damage caused by tooth decay with composite resin

There is no recovery period after getting teeth repaired with composite resins, and most patients do not experience any pain or discomfort afterward. Teeth that have been repaired with composite bonding are more susceptible to picking up stains and discoloration, so patients should avoid consuming things that can stain them.

Restore your damaged teeth

Call or visit our Killeen clinic to set up an appointment with our dentist if you have teeth that have been damaged by decay.

Request an appointment here: https://www.texasstarsmiles.com or call Texas Star Smiles & Fastbraces at (254) 237-1342 for an appointment in our Killeen office.

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