A dentist in Marrero, Louisiana, explains the benefits of tooth-colored composite dental fillings

For many decades in dentistry, a material called metal amalgam was used for fillings when people had cavities. While this material is effective at filling the tooth, it has a silver color that is visible when you smile and speak, and it is approximately 50 percent mercury. This metal has been cited as toxic to human health by the World Health Organization. At Smile in Style in Marrero, Louisiana, we use a natural-looking, metal-free alternative: composite dental fillings.

Dental fillings explained

Cavities are areas of decay on a tooth that form due to the buildup of plaque and tartar on teeth. Bacteria thrive in plaque, and as they break down the sugars in your mouth, they release acids that slowly erode the tooth enamel and underlying structure of the tooth. It is important to have the cavity treated as soon as possible because if they are left untreated, the decay can progress into the tooth’s inner pulp chamber and even begin to affect the underlying bone that holds the tooth in place.

Benefits of composite dental fillings

We use dental fillings made from composite resin because they offer our patients many advantages in keeping their smiles healthy and beautiful:

• Tooth-colored: the white color of the filling material blends in seamlessly with your smile, so no one will know you have had a filling placed
• Safe: composite resin is a biocompatible material that does not contain any metal, so it is considered hypoallergenic and will not corrode or cause galvanization over time
• Conservative: when placing composite fillings, we need to remove less of the natural tooth structure around the decayed area than is necessary to place an amalgam filling

Additionally, composite resin has similar expansion and contraction properties as a natural tooth when exposed to hot and cold temperatures. This is important because amalgam fillings tend to expand and contract at a faster rate than teeth due to their metal content, so over time, they place stress on the teeth and can ultimately lead to breaks and fractures. With composite resin fillings, this is not an issue!

Healthy smiles start here

Call Dr. Diem Do at Smile in Style, Diem Do DDS today to schedule your appointment! Our Marrero, LA office can be reached at (504) 370-2229.

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