If you develop a dental cavity, you want it restored right away. Your dentist, Dr. Timothy Lethin, is pleased to restore decay with modern tooth-colored fillings. Placed in just one visit to his Anchorage, AK, office, these lifelike restorations strengthen teeth and beautify them as well.
What is tooth decay?
It is a destructive infection which collects in plaque and tartar. Often affecting chewing surfaces and interdental spaces, cavities require treatment so they do not invade the tooth's interior pulp, roots and underlying bone.
For most cavities, Dr. Lethin chooses a tooth-colored filling. After numbing the tooth and removing the damaged portions, he bonds the appropriate material right to the tooth enamel. He selects the filling type according to the extent and location of your cavity. Materials include:
- Composite resin, a blend of plastic and glass particles that the dentist layers into the prepared site, curing each layer with a special blue light. These white fillings are very durable and need far less enamel reduction than metal fillings do.
- Porcelain (inlays and onlays), a long-lasting choice for large cavities involving the chewing surfaces of molars. The dentist designs these bonded-on partial crowns in his Anchorage, AK, office and sends the information out to a lab for fabrication of the restoration.
Benefits of tooth-colored fillings
These modern restorations last for years when you brush and floss daily, avoid hard foods and see your dentist in his Anchorage office for cleanings and exams semi-annually. Additionally, tooth-colored fillings are known for their realism. They match the color and sheen of bordering enamel.
Finally, a tooth-colored filling protects your tooth from further damage. There are no spaces between your filling and the tooth's interior structure; so bacteria cannot infiltrate the dentin or pulp. Also, these white materials flex in a way that mimics real tooth enamel, says the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry (AACD). So, your tooth is less likely to crack or chip.
A healthy, attractive smile
No one wants a cavity, but if you do get one, a tooth-colored filling placed by Dr. Timothy Lethin is highly desirable. For more information on modern restorative materials, call your dentist at his Anchorage office: (907) 337-9474.