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Show Your Teeth Some Respect

Think about how many times per day you rely on your teeth. You use them to chew breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks. You press your tongue against them to make certain sounds when you speak. There's really no doubt about it — your teeth are important, and they deserve your respect. You can pay them that respect by visiting your dentist for regular cleaning and checkup appointments. You should also call at the first sign of dental pain, tooth discoloration, or other oral health changes. Read more about dentists and dentistry here on this blog, where we dive deep into related topics.

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Show Your Teeth Some Respect

Why Do Dentists Use Resin Dental Fillings?

by April Myers

Have you recently been told by your dentist that you need a cavity? If so, you're likely wondering what kind of filling they recommend putting into your teeth. While there are a few types of materials out there, your dentist will likely recommend a white filling made out of a resin composite. Here are 3 reasons to consider getting this type of filling. 

Resin Bonds with the Tooth

While old fillings made out of silver were quite popular for some time, they attached to the tooth in quite a different way compared to resin fillings. The old silver filling required shaping the tooth in a certain way for the filling material to stick to your tooth. The dentist would actually have to create a small lip that the material could latch onto once it solidified. If the decay was removed and left a cup-shaped hole, the metal material would never hold in place. 

Resin fillings will actually bond with the tooth, which makes it a much better choice for a filling material. This means that the dentist can remove the bare minimum required to get rid of the decay, and not worry about creating a lip for the resin to slide under. This will keep more of the tooth structure to help preserve the tooth over time.

Resin Fillings Are Easier to Repair

If you have a problem with a metal filling, that lip inside the tooth can cause problems with trying to repair the tooth. For example, if the filling needs to be removed, it will be difficult to remove a small amount of the tooth. You'll always have to make the hole bigger so that a new lip can be made for the replacement metal filling. In some instances, the walls of the tooth can break off if your dentist has to create a lip that is bigger to repair the tooth. 

In comparison, a resin filling will be much easier to repair if it becomes cracked or damaged. Once again, the dentist will have to remove the bare minimum amount of tooth surface in order to repair a composite filling, which will be better for the tooth. 

Resin Fillings Look Better

Of course, you cannot deny how much better a resin filling is going to look in your tooth. While other people do not notice molars in the back of your mouth, fillings are much more noticeable on front-facing teeth. You'll want that white filling to help hide those cavities from others. 

If you're still undecided on fillings, contact a local dentist

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