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Natural tooth-colored fillings have become widely accepted and
are used in place of silver fillings by Dr.Markle. There are
even studies that show that in some cases, use of certain tooth-colored
materials can strengthen a tooth, making it a better choice
than the metallic predecessor - amalgam. Two basic types of
tooth-colored restorations are used: composite and ceramic.
Composites have been used for many years however their chemical
make-up has changed and improved exponentially. The bonding
agents used to make the composites adhere to the tooth have
improved just as dramatically. Because of the improvements,
the use of composites has become widely accepted by dentists
and the indications for their use are more numerous. They are
being used to close undesirable spaces, improve the shape, size
and color of a tooth, replace an unsightly amalgam restoration,
cover abraded or worn areas of a tooth (usually at the gum line)
and to cover stains. Composites can also be used to protect
thermally sensitive areas and to repair and strengthen broken
teeth.
Once the tooth has been prepared and all decay removed, chemicals
and materials are placed on the tooth to increase bond strength
and to protect the tooth. Next, the composite material is placed
incrementally into the tooth and is hardened by exposure to
a special curing light. The restoration is then contoured to
fit the bite and then is highly polished. These fillings require
a bit more time than the silver fillings because of the number
of steps involved. Composite fillings can also be a bit more
sensitive, at first, to extreme hot and cold and they may discolor
over time if the patient smokes or drinks a lot of coffee, tea
or cola. They can also be more expensive and some composites
may wear faster than silver fillings; however, they yield a
much more natural and aesthetic result. Ceramic fillings, like
composites, come in several different types that can be used
for different situations. Ceramics are typically used for the
larger and more broken down areas. In these cases, an inlay
or onlay to cover more of the tooth's surface may be indicated.
These restorations are indirect because they require two visits
and fabrication by a dental laboratory. The ceramic restorations
are considerably more expensive and therefore simple, one-visit
composite fillings are typically used instead. Ceramic restorations
are much more durable and will not stain. Naturally speaking,
the final result with ceramics is spectacular. |
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