Dental Fillings Yarmouth, ME

Enjoy a More Natural Smile with Composite Dental Fillings

Tooth decay is one of the most common chronic health conditions. There are many risk factors that can make a patient susceptible to tooth decay.  As part of your routine exams and cleaning appointments Dr Russo will identify your specific risk factors and make recommendations on ways to minimize risk, as avoiding recurrence is a vital part of long term treatment success.  In cases where a tooth is carious and requires a filling – a dental filling is an affordable, natural-looking, and safe solution. Not only are our fillings at Make ME Smile some of the most aesthetic restorations available today, but they are strong and long-lasting as well.

At Make ME Smile , we rely on high-quality materials, latest technology, and advanced techniques to create aesthetic and functional restorations for our patients .  Our goal is to create results that are designed to be virtually undetectable. 

How do I know if I need a filling?

Visiting the dentist for routine recall and having radiographs taken periodically (based on your specific caries risk assessment) are the best measures for early detection of caries.  Early detection is beneficial as it minimizes the risk of more invasive procedures being required to treat the area.  Undiagnosed and untreated carious lesions may lead to the need for root canals or extractions. 

It is not recommended to rely on symptoms to diagnose cavities requiring attention.  Symptoms are not a reliable indicator if a tooth is decayed and requires a filling.  Just like any other medical issue that may arise, the body is not adept at diagnosing early stages of a disease process.  Teeth are living structures with nerve/pulp tissue, and like other parts of your body can experience symptoms that may subside with palliative therapy only versus requiring treatment by the dentist.  Visit Dr Russo and have him evaluate your teeth so he can advise if any symptoms you are experiencing are a variation of normal (which can be treated without irreversible procedures), referred pain (from another part of the head and neck) or coming from the teeth themselves (requiring dental treatment).

Cavity Prevention — What can I do to prevent the need for a filling?

The best way to fight cavities and maintain healthy gums and teeth is to keep up on your daily habit of proper oral hygiene. Here are 4 ways to ward off tooth decay and prevent cavities:

• Come in to our office for a comprehensive oral exam and regular cleanings.
• Drink more water and cut back on sugary and acidic drinks.
• Develop the habit of flossing every night.
• Avoid smoking.

Dental Fillings—The Process

The procedure for placing a composite resin dental filling is a routine treatment that we do every day at Make ME Smile . Here’s how it works:

1. Dr Russo administers local anesthetic.
2. Dental decay is removed.
3. The tooth is isolated and a dental etchant is applied, followed by a desensitizer and a bonding agent.
4. Composite resin is then applied in layers.
5. A special light is used to harden each layer of composite resin material.
6. After the tooth is filled, the composite resin is shaped to resemble a real tooth.
7. Finally, the restoration is smoothed and polished to accommodate your bite.

When is a filling not the correct treatment choice for a cavity?

A filling does what it says it does—it is filling in a cavity, a hole that has been created by decay essentially restoring normal tooth anatomy. When we create a filling from composite resin, we shade the white material so that it blends naturally with your surrounding tooth structure. The result is a restoration that is practically invisible.

If a tooth has already received multiple fillings over the course of your life and there is fractured, decayed or missing tooth structure compromising greater than half the remaining crown of the tooth another dental treatment may be indicated.  Dr Russo will take intraoral photos of the area and other treatment options can be reviewed.

What are composite resin fillings and restorations?

Composite resin fillings are the most common alternative to dental amalgam. They are sometimes called “tooth-colored” or “white” fillings because of their color.  Composite resin is often placed in layers to build up the final restoration, then cured with an LED light. This light energy speeds up a chemical reaction of the components causing the soft material to harden and bond to the tooth. This material is considered safe. The color (shade) of composite resins can be customized to closely match surrounding teeth. This type of filling contains no metal and can be shaped to resemble a real tooth. It is usually hard to tell that a tooth has even been filled!

Composite resin fillings have several advantages. The “white” color is preferred by many patients due to its ability to blend in with surrounding teeth. It is also possible to make a more conservative preparations when using composite material, thus enabling the dentist to preserve more natural tooth structure.

 Benefits of composite resin fillings:

• Preferred white/natural-looking color
• Better for smaller fillings
• Preservation of more tooth structure

 

What’s wrong with metal/amalgam fillings?

The American Dental Association Council on Scientific Affairs has concluded that both amalgam and composite materials are considered safe and effective for tooth restoration.

Composite resin sets immediately after the procedure is completed and therefore the risk of damaging a filling that was placed is minimized.  With amalgam, the restoration may take up to 24 hours to fully set and therefore softer foods are recommended for the rest of the day (with resin softer foods are recommended only until anesthetic has worn off so that you may not accidentally bite your lip or tongue).

We are excited to be able to restore decayed teeth to their optimal appearance and function with fillings and other types of restorations. At Make ME Smile , we use dental fillings to help our patients preserve their healthy, beautiful teeth and avoid additional damage.

The result of high-quality composite fillings is a beautiful, healthy smile. For more information about our dental fillings, call our office today!