There's no way to disguise the fact that you've had cavities when your teeth are filled with silver amalgam fillings. Luckily, tooth-colored 
fillings make it impossible for anyone to tell that you've had dental work. Lexington, KY, dentists Dr. William Lee, Dr. Pada Chalothorn and Dr. William Cartee of TLC Dentistry discuss the advantages of tooth-colored fillings.
What are tooth-colored fillings?
Composite resin, a material made with a mixture of flexible plastic and powdered glass, is often used to fill teeth, repair damage or change the shape of a tooth. The material is an excellent choice if you want your dental work to blend in with your tooth enamel. Composite resin is available in a variety of shades tinted to match the most common tooth colors. Once the material is added to your tooth and cured with a hardening light in our Lexington office, your restored tooth will look just like the others.
What are the benefits of tooth-colored fillings?
Tooth-colored fillings offer several benefits in addition to a more natural appearance, including:
- No Cracks: Silver amalgam shrinks and expands when exposed to heat and cold. Over time, these changes can result in cracks in your filled tooth. Cracks increase the risk that your tooth will break and also provide a pathway for bacteria to invade your tooth. Unlike silver amalgam, composite resin doesn't expand when it's exposed to temperature variations, which means cracking is less likely to be an issue.
- Stronger Teeth: Filling a cavity involves removing part of the healthy tooth structure surrounding the decayed area. Removing the healthy structure can weaken your tooth and increase the likelihood of a crack or break. When a tooth-colored filling is used, less healthy structure needs to be removed. The fillings also bond to your teeth, which makes them stronger.
- No Discolorations: As silver amalgam fillings age, they may darken your tooth. Because your composite resin filling matches the shade of your tooth, you won't have to worry about discolorations in the future.
Tooth-colored fillings improve your appearance and protect your teeth. If you're concerned about a toothache or need to schedule your next checkup, call Lexington, KY, dentists Dr. William Lee, Dr. Pada Chalothorn and Dr. William Cartee of TLC Dentistry at (859) 223-8987 to schedule an appointment.