So when a patient comes in and they either have a cavity or they have a piece of tooth missing that may have chipped or broken off, one of the simplest things we can do is a tooth filling. Tooth filling materials come in a variety of shapes and sizes and colors. Our office no longer uses any silver or metal-based filling material. We use strictly tooth-colored or composite materials. And that allows us to get a much better color match to make sure that it’s going to blend in and look natural. But it also allows that filling, instead of it simply being wedged in place and putting a lot of pressure on the tooth, it allows it to be bonded to the tooth, which tends to be a lot safer for the tooth, a lot less likely for that tooth to break later on. And then it allows us to be as conservative as possible.
With silver fillings, you have to remove a certain amount of tooth structure to make sure that your fillings are the right size. With tooth-colored fillings, we’re able to simply only take out the tooth that is damaged and replace it, no matter how small that area is, with that composite material. And so it’s a great way to fix a tooth safely and without having to be too over-the-top invasive with it.
Feel Better About Your Smile With Bonding Treatment
If your smile is suffering from a few dings and dents, then bonding may be the treatment for you. Your dentist can use composite resin material to repair these imperfections and give you an improved smile, usually in just one visit. Here’s how the bonding process works:
- We’ll select a shade of resin that matches your teeth so the repair blends in.
- Your dentist will sculpt the material into place to correct chips, cracks, small gaps, worn teeth, or misshapen teeth.
- They will harden the resin with an ultraviolet light.
- Your dentist will make any final adjustment to the repair so that your bite is perfect.
- The resin will be polished so it looks as natural as possible.
Teeth Veneers Are a Good Option for More Extensive Damage
During your initial consultation, we’ll evaluate your smile to see if you’re a good candidate for dental bonding. If your teeth have experienced more extensive damage, if you have larger gaps in between your teeth, or if you want to make multiple changes, dental veneers may work better for you.
Veneers are thin wafers of material that are cemented to the front side of flawed teeth to make them more appealing. They can be made from ceramic or composite resin, depending on your wants as well as the location of the repair. Composite resin veneers are generally more affordable, although ceramic veneers last longer. Our team will help you decide which material will work best for your situation.
To find out more about Smyrna tooth bonding, call Legacy Hill Dentistry today at 615-510-6996. You can also make an appointment online.