Tooth Colored Fillings in Glenmont, NY

It's easy to take healthy teeth for granted until something goes wrong. You can be proactive about your oral hygiene and dental care and still develop a cavity. The most common way to repair a decayed or cracked tooth is filling the tooth with an aesthetic tooth-colored filling or a silver amalgam filling. Without proper treatment, tooth decay can lead to painful oral infections or abscesses and can damage one’s overall health. 

Tooth-colored fillings are a conservative, aesthetically pleasing way to fix a damaged tooth and prevent further decay. Using a composite material, our team at Bethlehem Town Dental creates beautiful fillings that can easily be color-matched to the shade of your teeth, resulting in a long-lasting discreet repair.

Everyone desires a beautiful, healthy smile that will last throughout their lifetime. Bethlehem Town Dental in Glenmont, NY, can help you achieve the smile of your dreams without burning a hole in your wallet. Our team of dedicated dental professionals is here for you through every step of your restoration journey, from your initial consultation and your treatment to financial planning and aftercare. 

For any questions about tooth-colored fillings, please call us at (518) 776-4939. We also invite you to continue reading if you would like to learn more about tooth-colored fillings. 

• Advantages of Using Tooth-Colored Fillings
• Quality and Strict Attention to Detail
• The Tooth Filling Procedure
• How to Prevent Tooth Decay
• Please Call to Schedule an Appointment at Our Glenmont, NY Office

Advantages of Using Tooth-Colored Fillings

Appearance

One of the top reasons we recommend composite fillings is that the shade of the filling can be matched closely to the color of your natural tooth color. Dr. Henry carefully sculpts the composite material to match your tooth's contours, creating a discreet repair that’s hardly noticeable. Tooth-colored fillings look and feel natural, and they blend in with your surrounding teeth. Commonly used on the front teeth, tooth-colored fillings are virtually indiscernible from your natural smile.

Tooth-colored fillings can also be placed on back teeth because they can withstand force from chewing without breaking or wearing down. The reason why tooth-colored fillings blend in with your natural smile so well is that they are made out of plastic resin and powdered glass.

On the other hand, amalgam fillings appear as dark spots on white dental enamel and will gradually stain your teeth over time, which can lead to teeth taking on a dark, gray hue. Not only are amalgam fillings unsightly, but they can also pose a risk to individuals who are prone to allergies.

Some patients who are sensitive to metals, specifically mercury compounds, cannot have amalgam fillings. Because amalgam is a metallic substance, it is still vulnerable to corrosion while in the oral cavity. Amalgam fillings are durable and work for some patients, but tooth-colored fillings provide the natural look and feel many patients desire. 

Preservation of Tooth Structure

As dentists, we understand the importance of preserving the natural structure of your teeth. One problem with amalgam fillings is that they need a certain amount of bulk to make them strong enough to stand up to daily wear and tear. This means we have to remove more of the healthy portion of your tooth for an effective repair.

Since composite fillings bond directly to the tooth, they don’t require all the additional room that amalgam fillings do. The result is that we don't need to remove a lot of the healthy part of your tooth to create a durable filling.

Tooth-colored fillings are made of a composite resin material that contains fluoride, which prevents further tooth decay. The resin also reinforces gum health because it does not require invading the gum line for proper placement. Ultimately, tooth-colored fillings preserve a more natural tooth structure while fighting to keep infection at bay. 

Long-Term Stability

Another disadvantage of using amalgam fillings is that they tend to fracture and can break the filling away from the edges of the tooth. This opens up a space that allows bacteria to accumulate between the filling and your natural tooth, leading to more serious dental issues in the future. On the other hand, tooth-colored fillings are made from a strong, adhesive material bonded to the tooth's natural structure. With tooth-colored fillings, your smile is sure to last. 

Quality and Strict Attention to Detail

The longevity and success rate of composite restorations depend largely on the practitioner's skills. To seal the filling securely to your tooth, your mouth must be dry when we apply the composite. We use the Isodry ® system, which effectively isolates the teeth we’re working on, keeps the area dry, and dramatically enhances the success rate of composite restorations. The Isodry system has a soft, latex-free mouthpiece, which gives our patients a more comfortable experience during their procedure.

While amalgam has been used successfully for many years, we prefer to use tooth-colored fillings because they conserve tooth structure and blend well with natural teeth. With Dr. Henry’s attention to detail and ability to keep the treatment area dry and isolated, we can greatly enhance the longevity of composite restorations. 

The Tooth Filling Procedure

When you visit Dr. Henry to receive a tooth-colored filling, he will first apply a numbing agent to prevent you from experiencing any pain or discomfort. Once you are comfortable and relaxed, Dr. Henry will gently remove the tooth’s decayed tissue and clean the remaining tooth in preparation for the composite filling. Thorough cleaning is essential for preventing the accumulation of bacteria in the restored tooth. Dr. Henry will make sure your tooth is free of any potential bacterial risks before he fills the tooth.

When the tooth is completely clean, Dr. Henry applies the tooth-colored filling in meticulous layers. Each layer of composite resin will be hardened with a special light before the next layer is applied.

This layering technique reinforces the restored tooth’s structural integrity and durability so it can last through all of your normal daily activities. Once all of the layers are secure, Dr. Henry will shape and polish the tooth to match your natural smile. This procedure is painless and convenient as it can be completed in only one visit to your dentist. 

How to Prevent Tooth Decay

With proper oral care, tooth decay is highly preventable. Practicing thorough and consistent dental health care is the key to maintaining a lifelong healthy smile. We recommend visiting your dentist twice each year so you can receive professional teeth cleanings, comprehensive oral exams, and oral cancer screenings.

Our licensed hygienists at Bethlehem Town Dental can remove plaque buildup and clean all the areas of your mouth your toothbrush and floss can’t reach. However, it’s important to remember that home dental care is just as important as professional dental care.

To decrease your risk of developing tooth decay or other dental health issues, we encourage you to do the following:                             

• Floss every day to clean between teeth and strengthen your gums.  
• Brush your teeth with fluoride toothpaste at least two times each day. 
• If you chew gum, only chew sugar-free gum. 
• Rinse your mouth with an antibacterial mouthwash.  
• Visit your dentist for routine checkups.  

Though tooth decay is preventable, we understand that accidents and tooth decay can still occur. Tooth-colored fillings are a great restorative option if you want to repair a chipped tooth or treat a cavity.

Please Call to Schedule an Appointment at Our Glenmont, NY Office

Tooth decay is one of the most common oral health concerns patients have. However, it can be prevented and treated with proactive, comprehensive dental care. Our goal is to help keep your teeth healthy and intact for a long time. The services we provide, like natural white fillings, allow us to easily achieve the important goal of having you leave our office with a smile that's healthier than when you arrived!

If you’d like to learn more about tooth-colored fillings in Ravena, Glenmont, or the greater Albany region, please call our Glenmont dental office.