Dealing with a cavity? A dental filling can fix that.
Tooth decay is one of the most common dental diseases worldwide. In fact, the average American has three dental fillings while 25 percent of Americans have 11 or more. That’s a lot of fillings! While factors such as maintaining good oral hygiene and visiting our Vernon, CT, dentist, Dr. Jeffrey Burns, every six months can go a long way to preventing decay, genetics and other factors also play a role. Fortunately, when a cavity does appear, a simple dental filling is usually all you need to remedy the situation.
What is a dental filling?
When we find decayed enamel, the first thing we will want to do is remove the enamel to prevent the decay from spreading deeper into the tooth. If decay is severe enough, the tooth may require a root canal or a dental crown. The goal of our Vernon, CT, family dentist is to catch the problem early on, which is why those six-month checkups are important for everyone.
A filling is a special material that is used to fill the holes in your teeth where the decay has been removed. The filling not only improves the appearance of the tooth, but also restores its strength, durability, and functionality.
What are the benefits of a composite filling?
Here at our office in Vernon, CT, we know the importance of having a beautiful smile. This is why we place composite resin fillings, a tooth-colored material that is molded and shaped over parts of the tooth to restore it. Here are some of the benefits to this type of filling:
- They bond to the tooth: When using composite resin we will choose the proper shade of resin that most closely matches your teeth. Afterward, the resin is applied in thin layers and contoured to the exact structure of your tooth. Once the resin has been properly shaped, we will use a special light to bond the filling directly to the tooth for immediate strengthening.
- Treatment is quick: Once decay has been removed from the tooth, dental filling treatment is actually quite quick. In fact, it only takes a few minutes to place and shape the filling, and it can be hardened permanently to the tooth in a matter of seconds.
Need dental work? Give us a call
If it’s time to schedule a routine checkup, then call our Vernon, CT, dentist today by dialing (860) 870-4410.