Tooth-Colored Fillings Denver
Give Your Child’s Tooth a Second Chance
At Wash Park Pediatric Dentistry, we take pride in being able to meet the needs of our young patients, even in advanced cases. But what if your child has only a little decay? Although we have the expertise and training to perform complex treatment, we also believe in catching and treating problems early and using minimal treatment when necessary. The first treatment to address a cavity while it’s small is a filling, and we use tooth-colored fillings to bring back the aesthetic and function of the tooth in the least invasive way. If your child needs a filling, contact us to take of the problem as soon as possible!
Why Choose Wash Park Pediatric Dentistry for Tooth-Colored Fillings?
- Board-Certified Pediatric Dentist Who Makes Dental Care Fun
- Conservative Treatment to Preserve Your Child’s Smile
- Comfortable Office with a Friendly, Accommodating Team
What Are Tooth-Colored Fillings?
When you were little, you may have heard of or even had metal amalgam fillings, which were made of silver, tin, and mercury. However, as the name suggests, a tooth-colored filling is a conservative restoration that is shaded to match the surrounding tooth. It consists of composite resin, which is a mixture of fine ceramic particles and safe dental plastic. This material is durable, bio-compatible, and definitely the best option for small cavities!
The Process of Getting a Tooth-Colored Filling
If Dr. Patrick finds some decay on one of your child’s teeth, he will explain and show you what he sees so that everyone understands the next steps. To start treatment, he will administer a local anesthetic, numbing the area before removing the decayed structure from the tooth. Dr. Patrick will then take a bit of putty-like composite resin that is as close to the tooth’s shade as possible and put it into the hole. He will shape the resin to resemble natural structure and then use a curing light to solidify it. After he makes some last adjustments and smooths the resin, your child’s tooth is restored!
The Benefits of Tooth-Colored Fillings
Over metal fillings used in the past, composite resin fillings have many advantages, the most obvious of which is its lifelike appearance. Instead of standing out with a silvery appearance, tooth-colored fillings blend in, disguising where the cavity happened and giving your child more confidence.
In addition, composite resin bonds more easily with enamel than amalgam. When metal fillings were put in, additional tooth structure had to be removed to ensure a strong hold. However, with composite resin, more enamel can be preserved for the long term.
For those who have tooth sensitivity, metal fillings can carry hot or cold temperatures from food or beverages and trigger a negative response. The materials can also expand and contract according to the temperature, potentially leading to future cracks in the tooth. With composite resin, thankfully, neither of these situations is an issue.