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Treating cavities has long been one of the most common restorative dentistry goals. That’s because cavities (and the tooth decay that causes them) are the most common chronic issue to affect children’s and adult’s teeth. In many cases, that treatment involves the cleaning and filling of the cavity, which stops it from growing worse and restores the tooth’s structural integrity. At our Mansfield, TX, dental office, we often recommend treating cavities with tooth-colored fillings, which offer a number of benefits for your tooth as well as your long-term oral health.

They look more natural

Tooth-colored fillings are made from biocompatible composite resin, which we can customize to match your tooth’s color and shade. This gives the fillings their most notable advantage – the ability to blend in naturally with your healthy tooth structure and the teeth around it. Compared to metal fillings, which were traditionally recommended to treat cavities in the past, composite resin fillings can help you retain your smile’s healthy appearance long after you’ve treated your cavity.

They’re safer than metal amalgam

Traditional metal fillings weren’t just obvious because of their metallic shine, they were also unsafe for certain patients. For instance, those who have metal allergies, or who are pregnant, may not be viable candidates for the fillings because of their metal content. By contrast, tooth-colored composite resin doesn’t contain any traces of metal, which makes them safer for a wider variety of patients who experience cavities.

They’re more biocompatible

Besides not containing metal, tooth-colored composite resin is also more biocompatible than metal amalgam in several ways. For example, the resin doesn’t produce excess friction against your healthy tooth structure, which means they’re less likely to wear down the tooth opposite of the cavity. Resin also retains its shape, unlike metal, so it won’t shrink or grow over time and place your tooth at further risk of damage or decay.

They can reduce your risks of more decay

Metal fillings may expand when exposed to heat or contract when exposed to cold. Over time, this can compromise the tooth that the filling is placed in by fracturing or breaking the tooth (if it expands) or leaving it vulnerable to further infection (if it contracts). Because tooth-colored fillings retain their shape, they don’t pose this risk, making you less likely to need further treatment for the tooth in the future.

Find out if you need a tooth-colored filling

Their lifelike appearance is just one of the many reasons why we usually recommend tooth-colored fillings to treat cavities. For more information, schedule a consultation by calling our dentist’s office in Mansfield, TX, today at 817-473-6227.