Small Cavity or Chipped Tooth? Your Best Fix is a Bonded, Tooth-Colored Restoration!
Bonded, Tooth-Colored Restorations –Still the Best Restoration for Small Cavities or Small Chips!
Small chip in tooth due to trauma can be easily restored.
Tooth-colored composite material fills in the chip and is bonded to the tooth.
Bonded, tooth-colored restorations also known as composite restorations have stood the test of time, and they are still the best restoration for small cavities!
For years dentists placed amalgam or silver fillings composed primarily of a 50/50 blend of silver and mercury. First, the dentist would remove the decay, then the dentist would deepen, widen, and undercut the opening into the tooth just so that the silver filling would not fall out of the tooth. Bonded, tooth-colored restorations or composite fillings can bond to the tooth – even to a flat surface – so the dentist can place a very conservative restoration removing just the decayed and weakened tooth and preserving more of your healthy tooth structure.
Decay often starts in the grooves of teeth as this area is hard to keep clean and food and debris packs here.
Cavity is removed and tooth health is restored with a bonded, tooth-colored restoration.
Some dentists are still placing amalgams or silver/mercury fillings. We have not used them in our office since about 1995 when I decided that I would not put in someone else’s mouth what I would not want in my own or my children’s mouthes. Our office prefers bonded, tooth-colored composite fillings when a bonded restoration is the best solution. Over time, amalgam or silver/mercury fillings act just like any metal and they expand and contract as the temperature of your mouth changes such as when you have a cold or hot drink. This can cause fractures in the adjacent tooth structure requiring replacing the filling or restoration with an even larger, deeper filling, or with a crown. Tooth-colored composite restorations are more technique sensitive to place and are generally more time consuming then the older amalgam or silver/mercury fillings. But isn’t it worth it? Aren’t your teeth worth it? We haven’t even touched on the fact that the mercury found in all amalgam or silver fillings is a poison and who wants this in their tooth!
Very visible, stained restoration should either be replaced or polished.
Our office wants you to have what is best for you and for your teeth! If your tooth-colored restorations stain over time, it is sometimes possible to polish them. This will make them look significantly better, and allow the restoration to function well for much longer.
Most of the stain is removed and the restoration may last many more years.
We decide to make the restoration last longer simply by polishing away the defective area!
Our office would be happy to discuss with you options to restore your teeth or your children’s or loved one’s teeth. Our goal is to treat you like we would want to be treated and to give you options about your dental care so you can make the right decisions for you! Please call our office to set up an appointment or to ask any questions that you might have. Our office is located in Grand Junction, Colorado. Our phone number is (970) 242-3635. You can email us at jgillis@rosemontdev.com