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What Are Composite Dental Fillings?

Cavities are holes created by bacteria that eat away at teeth. If a cavity is not filled, bacteria will continue to destroy the tooth.

Cavities can lead to infection, which can get into the blood stream and cause serious health problems in children. Composite dental fillings can stop cavities and save an affected tooth.

What Are Amalgam Fillings?

Composite dental fillings are less common than silver or amalgam fillings. Amalgam fillings are a mixture of mercury, silver, tin, and copper.

While some people worry about the possible health risks of mercury, research has shown that amalgam fillings are not dangerous. 

Silver or amalgam fillings:

  • Are very noticeable, especially on front teeth
  • Require more of the tooth to be removed in order to make a space large enough for the filling
  • Expand and contract more than other types of fillings, possibly leading to cracks or breaks in the tooth 

Because of these disadvantages, people might want to consider composite dental fillings as a good option instead of standard amalgam fillings. 

Benefits of Composite Dental Fillings

Composite fillings are a tooth-colored mixture of plastic and glass that are used to fill cavities. While composite fillings have been around since the 1960s, a lot of improvements over the years have made them an good choice for filling cavities.

There are three reasons why you might prefer composite dental fillings. Composite fillings:

  1. Can be matched to the color of the tooth so they are less visible
  2. Require a smaller space in the tooth, saving more of the healthy part of the tooth
  3. Chemically bond to the tooth, which helps avoid cracks and breaking 

Composite fillings can also be used to repair chipped, broken, or worn teeth and blend right in with the surrounding teeth.

Call Kool Smiles Today

At Kool Smiles, we believe all kids have the right to quality dental care. Make an appointment for your child at Kool Smiles by calling us today.

We’ll be happy to answer any questions you have about your child’s dental health, cavities, and composite dental fillings.

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Sources:

Know Your Teeth: http://www.knowyourteeth.com/infobites/abc/article/?abc=f&iid=286&aid=1241

FDA: http://www.fda.gov/MedicalDevices/ProductsandMedicalProcedures/DentalProducts/DentalAmalgam/ucm171094.htm