Cavities are the number one dental problem that people tend to develop. Although cavities can be caused by numerous factors such as poor dental hygiene, eating too many sugary foods and so on, they weren’t always fixable. Thanks to the many innovations that have been made in the field of dentistry over the years, though, people no longer have to live with decayed teeth like they did back in the pioneer days. Fillings are resins that used to fill in the holes in the teeth that are left behind after the dentist removes the decayed portion, which is the cavity, from the patient’s mouth. Yet, patients have a choice as to which type of filling they prefer since fillings can be made of various materials nowadays.
What Are Composite Resin Fillings?
Composite resin fillings are ones that are composed of a tooth-colored plastic and glass mixture. Among all the different types of fillings available, these tend to be one of the most popular because they possess the same color as the natural tooth, which makes them imperceptible to the eye. No one will ever know that someone has a composite resin filling in his or her mouth unless the individual informs the onlooker of the fact. Although some people might opt for some cheaper options if their cavities are located in the backs of their mouths, such as in their molars, composite resin fillings are becoming the more popular choice for teeth that have cavities located near or in the front of their mouths where the filling used will be clearly visible.
Advantages of Composite Resin Fillings
Not only are composite resin fillings the same color as natural teeth, but they are actually bonded to the structure of the tooth. This means that they are oftentimes sturdier and less likely to fall out than some other types of fillings. Additionally, it doesn’t require as much preparation on the tooth itself to place a composite resin filling within a tooth. Usually much less of the tooth structure needs to be removed in order to fill the area with the composite resin filling than is require for other types of fillings like gold or silver or amalgam fillings. Lastly, composite resin fillings are extremely versatile in that not only can they be used to fill in cavities, but they can also be used to fill in area to repair chipped, broken or otherwise worn down teeth.
Placement of Composite Resin Fillings
Although the placement of a composite resin filling doesn’t require as much preparation on the tooth to be filled, the actual process of placing the resin within the tooth does tend to take longer than it does for metal fillings. This is because after the tooth is prepared to accept the composite resin, the tooth must be kept clean and dry throughout the entire process of actually filling the cavity. To place a composite resin filling, the resin is chemically bonded to the tooth and then dried onto it to create a stronger bond than metal fillings do.
Caring for Composite Resin Fillings
Caring for composite resin fillings consists of basically the same steps that caring for any fillings do. Although composite resin fillings are chemically bonded to the teeth and are much less likely to fall out or crack than metal fillings, this doesn’t necessarily mean that they never will. People who have composite resin fillings should practice good oral hygiene by making sure that they brush their teeth at least twice a day and that they floss at least once a day. Using an antibacterial mouthwash is also recommended since this will kill any additional bacteria and plaque that brushing alone doesn’t address. Of course, people should also see their dentists at least once or twice a year to have their fillings checked to make sure that there aren’t any issues with the fillings that they haven’t noticed and in order to have their teeth professionally cleaned.
References:
American Dental Association. “Composite fillings.” Retrieved on March 3, 2016, from http://www.mouthhealthy.org/en/az-topics/c/composite-fillings.
Academy of General Dentistry. “What is a composite resin (white filling)?” Retrieved on March 3, 2016, from http://www.knowyourteeth.com/infobites/abc/article/?abc=f&iid=286&aid=1241.
American Dental Association
211 East Chicago Ave.
Chicago, IL 60611-2678
312-440-2500
www.ada.org
Academy of General Dentistry
560 W. Lake St.
Sixth Floor
Chicago, IL 60661-6600
800-AGD-DENT
www.agd.org
Images:
http://www.premierdentalcare.net/files/2012/05/composite-1.jpg
http://vibrantsmilesga.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/before-after-composite-resin.jpg