What a Tooth-Colored Filling Is
A tooth-colored filling is a repair made from composite resin, a durable blend of resin and finely ground glass that bonds directly to the tooth. Unlike silver amalgam, composite comes in a full range of shades, so it can be matched to your enamel and layered to reflect light the way a natural tooth does. Bonding also tends to preserve more healthy tooth structure, and once polished, a well-placed filling is remarkably difficult to spot.
When You Might Need One
Fillings are most often called for when decay has opened a cavity and the damaged part of the tooth must be removed and rebuilt. Composite also lends itself to smoothing small chips, restoring worn edges, and replacing older fillings that have begun to fail; some patients simply prefer to exchange visible metal for a natural shade. Sensitivity to sweets or temperature, a dark spot, or a rough new edge is worth a call, though many early cavities cause no symptoms at all.
What to Expect at Your Visit
Most fillings are completed in a single, unhurried appointment. Dr. Sorina Ratchford numbs the area thoroughly, removes the decay, and prepares the tooth. She then selects a composite shade to match your enamel, places the material in thin layers, cures each layer with a special light, and shapes and polishes the finished filling to sit comfortably in your bite. You may notice pressure or vibration, but modern anesthetic keeps the visit calm and comfortable, and numbness fades within a few hours.
Aftercare, and How Long It Lasts
You may eat once the numbness wears off, though it is wise to chew gently at first, and mild sensitivity to hot or cold typically settles within a few days. Beyond that, a composite filling asks only what the rest of your teeth do: brushing twice a day, daily flossing, and regular cleanings, care our senior hygienist has provided to Morro Bay families for more than twenty-five years. Well-kept fillings commonly last many years, and we check each one at your routine exams.
Paying for Your Filling
Fillings are among the procedures dental insurance covers most routinely, and many plans pay a meaningful share of the cost of treating decay. Because every plan reads a little differently, our front office is glad to verify your benefits and explain what your coverage includes before any work begins. To schedule a visit or ask a question, call Morro Bay Family Dentistry at (805) 772-8585.