If you’ve ever had a cavity, then you will be familiar with fillings. These are what dentists use to fill in an area in your tooth where decayed material used to be. In previous years, the most popular type of fillings was amalgam—that silver-colored material made up of liquid mercury and a blend of alloys.
In recent years, the use of amalgam has been on the slide. Not only is amalgam highly visible and unattractive, but it is also bad for the environment and its mercury content has many people concerned.
Over time, alternatives to amalgam fillings have been developed. One of these is composite fillings. These fillings serve the same function as amalgams but are colored to resemble the natural shade of your teeth.
What Are Composite Fillings Made Of?
Composite fillings are made from a variety of different materials. The fillings may be made from a resin base and mixed with silica and then reinforced with a powdered glass filler.
The shade can be matched to the shade of your teeth so it’s not noticeable at all and will blend in with the rest of your pearly whites.
Not only are these excellent as tooth fillings, dentists also use these tooth-colored materials for veneers, crowns, and inlays. Sometimes, they are also used to restore chipped teeth.
What Are The Benefits of Using Composite?
Aside from blending seamlessly with the rest of your teeth, composite fillings also offer these advantages:
- They’re well-suited to fixing both minor flaws and larger damage
- They’re slightly more flexible, which results in reduced drilling and preserves more of your natural tooth.
- The material creates a strong bond with your tooth and resists fracture
- The procedure using composite is shorter and can usually be done in just one visit
- Temp sensitivity after the procedure goes away sooner
Procedure And After Care
Before your dental professional begins, your dentist will start selecting the shade of the composite to one that matches your teeth.
Next, a local anesthetic will be applied to your gums to prevent pain and reduce discomfort. Once the anesthetic begins to work, any decay from existing cavities will be removed through a drill. There should be no pain, only a slight pressure.
Once the decayed material is taken out, your dentist will clean and prep the area to remove bacteria and debris. The composite filling will now be placed inside the tooth layer by layer so that it fills up the entire hole. To make the filling harden quickly, your dentist will use ultraviolet light to “cure” it.
The repaired tooth will then be shaped and polished. Your bite will also be assessed by the dentist to make sure that the restoration feels comfortable for you.
Your mouth will likely feel numb for a few hours after the dental procedure. You might also feel a bit of sensitivity to hot or cold temperatures, but this should go away soon.
Since anesthesia makes the mouth numb, it’s best to refrain from eating until after the numbness has worn off so you won’t injure your cheeks or tongue by accidentally biting on them. Sometimes this numbness can mask a ‘high’ spot in your bite on the new filling. If this happens, it is important to let your dentist know so it can be adjusted.
What Is The Average Cost of Procedures Using Composites?
Composite fillings are generally inexpensive yet very effective methods of dental restoration. The average cost per tooth for composites usually runs from $200 to $450 per tooth, although the exact cost will depend on a number of factors:
- Extent of tooth decay. A larger area of damage will require more work resulting in more cost.
- Location of damage. Fillings on molars are generally more expensive because these are larger than the other teeth and are placed in harder-to-reach locations.
- If sedation is required. Most patients are able to go through a procedure with just local anesthesia, but for patients with severe anxiety or phobia, sedation may be in order. This will naturally drive up the cost of the procedure.
Does Insurance Cover Fillings?
Dental fillings are not cosmetic procedures, which means that your insurance carrier should provide some degree of coverage towards the cost of care. Dental insurance plans are numerous and often unique in their coverages, your dentist’s financial coordinators will do their best to provide an accurate estimation of coverage and out-of-pocket expenses.
Are Composites For You?
Your White Dental Studio team will advise you on what kind of filling is best suited to your situation and needs. Call us at 541-708-6288 to schedule a consultation with us.
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