White Tooth Fillings: A Procedure Overview

With 20 years of experience behind him, Lakefront Family Dentistry’s cosmetic dentist, Dr. Derek B. Hauser, DDS, has been serving Riverside County as both a family and cosmetic dentist. He can address a number of general and specific dental needs, including white tooth fillings. Fillings can fix damage due to fractures, cracks or decay in the teeth.

Fillings are developed using synthetic, composite resin material that is blended to match the color of the natural tooth. Dr. Hauser routinely uses this mixture to help restore patients’ teeth. If you need a filling or have questions, Contact Lakefront Family Dentistry at (951) 244-9495 or Request an Appointment Online Today!

The Causes of Cavities

Cavities are common, but they can be prevented by taking a few precautions, including:

• Avoid specific drinks and foods: Foods that stick to the teeth promote tooth decay. Starches and sugary foods cause plaque to form. For example, honey, raisins and milk are all promoters of plaque.
• Stop snacking: When you snack frequently, the acid present in the food you are eating has more time to cause damage.
• Drink tap instead of bottled water: Public water sources contain fluoride, which helps to protect tooth enamel from plaque buildup.

The Filling Procedure

First, your Dr. Hauser will numb the area around the tooth that needs to be filled; this includes the teeth, tongue, gums and the surrounding skin. He will then put a jelly-like substance on the affected area in order to begin the numbing process. An anesthetic will then be added to complete this process.

The decay in the tooth will then be drilled out and replaced with a tooth filling.

There are Different Types of Fillings

Fillings are created from several different types of materials. It’s recommended to speak with Dr. Hauser about which material will be best for you.

Available tooth filling options include:

• Amalgam: A mixture of tin, silver, mercury and other metals. Dr. Hauser does not use amalgam on patients, but other dentists might use this material.
• Composite resins: Tooth-colored fillings. These may be used more so on the front teeth because this is where appearance counts. Composite resin is easy for dentists to apply, and it is less expensive than gold fillings.
• Lonomers: Tooth-colored bits used to fill cavities between the teeth or small cavities. Lonomers sometimes spout out small quantities of fluoride, which will help prevent you from getting cavities.
• Gold: Hard for your dentist to work with and expensive for the patient. Gold makes the procedure cost more and take longer.
• Ceramics: Tooth-colored fillings that require specific equipment. Ceramics are a costly option and may take several appointments to complete the job.

Dr. Hauser uses composite resin because it is easy to blend and sculpt, so it will match perfectly with your natural teeth. The blend is also metal free, which means an aesthetically pleasing finish every time.

Advantages of a Composite Tooth Filling

Composite white tooth fillings have plenty of advantages, such as:

• Composite resin fillings can last up to 10 years and help to restore tooth structure.
• The composite blend bonds directly onto the tooth, which reduces the need for drilling.
• The materials used do not contain metal, which is a healthier option.
• White composite can be blended to perfectly match the color of your surrounding natural teeth.

Lakefront Family Dentistry recommends composite restorations for most of their patients. Dr. Hauser also offers his clients the option to have their preexisting silver-amalgam fillings replaced with natural-looking, white tooth fillings.

Cavity Treatment is Necessary

When cavities are not treated, cracked teeth or teeth damaged by decay will get worse over time. At Lakefront Family Dentistry, Dr. Hauser makes sure his patients understand that the mouth is the most important part of the body, and proper oral care should be a top priority.

If left untreated, tooth decay will require a more invasive procedure to improve tooth structure and health. White composites are a great option because they help restore strength to damaged teeth, and they prevent any further decay from forming.

See Dr. Hauser Today!

Patient convenience and comfort is Dr. Hauser’s number one concern. So much so that he purchased A-dec 500 premium dental chairs for all of his patients. If you need a cleaning or want white tooth fillings…or you just want a new, great family dentist, Contact one of our patient coordinators today at (951) 244-9495 or Request an Appointment Online Today!