Composite Resin Restoration
Princeton, NJ
 Taking care of your teeth is essential for preventing oral health issues, including tooth decay. Cavity prevention involves brushing, flossing, and regular dental cleanings and exams. After a tooth develops a cavity, it needs to be treated. Left untreated, a cavity only grows larger causing more serious problems. A composite resin restoration, or white filling, is an excellent, conservative option for restoring small cavities. At Prosthodontics of Princeton, we will always consider composite resin restorations as a first treatment option when small cavities are present.
How Cavities Form
A cavity forms as the result of tooth decay. Tooth decay is caused by bacteria that live in your mouth that cause the erosion of your tooth enamel. Oral bacteria feed on lingering sugars from your diet. As they eat, they produce harmful acids, which eat away at the enamel of your teeth. Brushing helps to keep the number of oral bacteria down, and it helps to eliminate the acids on your teeth. Flossing is as important as brushing since the floss cleans the contact surface between your teeth that the brush can’t reach. Ignoring your oral care routine, or simply missing certain areas of your mouth, gives the acids time to cause the formation of a small pit (cavity) in the enamel. Bacteria take up residence in this pit and continue their destruction. Over time, the cavity grows larger. Untreated, it can begin to weaken the tooth and destroy it. If the cavity progresses to the nerve of the tooth, a painful infection can form. For these reasons, treating cavities as soon as they are noticed is very important.
What are Composite Resin Dental fillings
Composite resin is a mixture of a resin-based matrix, inorganic filler called silica and other materials. The resin bonds to the surface of the tooth creating a strong restoration that blends in beautifully with your enamel making it ideal for cavities that affect the teeth visible when you smile.
Placing Your Composite Resin Fillings
Composite resin fillings are a straightforward procedure that takes only a single visit to complete. After local anesthetic is administered, the decay is removed and the tooth is cleaned and dried. An acid etch, or mild acidic solution, is used to create a rough, porous texture to the enamel which helps to ensure a strong bond between the composite material and your tooth. The tooth is cleaned and lightly dried a second time. The cavity is then filled with the composite resin material and a special light is used to cure, or dry, it. Finally, the material is polished smooth.
Benefits of Composite Resin Fillings
Composite resin fillings have several benefits:
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Composite resin provides a seamless fix, blending in perfectly with the color of your natural enamel
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More of your natural tooth structure is preserved
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Composite resin bonds with your natural tooth
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The material cures (hardens) faster than amalgam
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It can easily be replaced if damaged, loosened, or lost
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There is no metal or mercury in composite resin |
If you suspect you have a cavity, don’t ignore it. Contact Prosthodontics of Princeton to schedule your appointment today. |
