When you smile, what do you see?
Maybe more important, what do you want to see?
If you are one of the more than 90 percent of Americans who has had a cavity, then you may have a gold or amalgam filling that spoils an otherwise beautiful smile. (If you’ve never had a cavity, here’s hoping you can keep your teeth from developing tooth decay.)
If you live in or near Plano, TX, you don’t have to settle for metal fillings anymore. Our dentist office, 1st In Smiles, provides tooth-colored fillings to restore the natural appearance of your smile.
With that in mind, let’s discuss three reasons why you may need or want a white filling now or in the future.
➤ You Have A Cavity.
Like we said, 9 in 10 people will have at least one cavity during their lives, and some of those 9 will have more than one.
The bacteria that cause tooth decay are opportunistic, and if you neglect your oral hygiene, it won’t take long for them to start eating into one of your teeth. If this cavity is in a visible location, you are more likely to notice it sooner, if for no other reason than because it is ruining your smile.
Dental fillings are considered a basic restorative service, and any filling can accomplish the goal of protecting your tooth and restoring its function.
After removing the decayed parts of your tooth, you could get a gold filling, which may be the most expensive way to solve this problem. You could get an amalgam filling, which is made with a blend of mercury and other metals. That is less expensive than gold, but it still leaves you will tiny glimmers of metal in your teeth.
For practical purposes, these fillings are like historic markers letting people know that you once had a cavity in that tooth.
A tooth-colored or white filling can fulfill the primary functions of protecting and repairing your tooth. However, this filling material has the added benefit of being discreet. With a tooth-colored filling, other people may never realize that you once had a cavity.
➤ Your Old Fillings Need To Be Replaced.
This is an issue that will come up no matter what kind of filling you have.
Gold, amalgam, and white fillings can last for several years, but none of them will last forever. This is one of the reasons you need to have regular cleanings and examinations. We will keep an eye on your fillings and let you know when we noticed that that are starting to wear down and wear out.
Of course, you should be watching for problems as well.
Old fillings may crack. Old fillings can become chipped or broken. Old fillings may start to separate from your teeth, and they may fall out if you don’t take action to replace them.
The reason fillings protect your teeth is because they form a seal over the site of your old cavity. A chip, a crack, or a space created by separate may be more vulnerable to a new cavity. These are spaces that you simply cannot clean with a toothbrush or dental floss.
If you notice any changes in the condition of your filling, we recommend that you make a dental appointment as soon as you are able.
➤ You Want Your Teeth To Look Like Teeth Again.
Even if your fillings are in relatively good shape, you may not want to keep your metallic fillings. This might be for purely cosmetic reasons.
We know that some people may be concerned by something we noted earlier. Amalgam fillings are about 50 percent mercury and about 50 percent other metals, usually copper, silver, and tin.
From a health standpoint, both the American Dental Association and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration maintain that amalgam fillings are safe to use. The risk of mercury being absorbed into the body is quite low, according to both organizations.
Nevertheless, if you rather not take any chances, we can remove your old, metal fillings and replace them with a fresh set of tooth-colored fillings instead.
The Smile Your Smile Could Be
Don’t let a cavity get you down. You can reclaim your smile with our white fillings at 1st In Smiles.
Tooth decay prevention is extremely important, but it still happens. When it does, we hope you will call our Plano dentist office at 972-905-9266 or use our online appointment form to schedule your treatment.
