So your dentist has brought it to your attention that you’re going to be needing a filling and gave you an option between the amalgam and composite options. You’ve been informed that the amalgam is cheaper, which likely has you leaning towards that option. Composite fillings have a lot of benefits over amalgam, and it’s important to learn about the differences so you can know which one is right for you. Read through this guide and you should be ready to make a decision by the time you meet up with your dentist again.
What Are The Components Of A Composite Filling?
When composite fillings first came on the scene in the 1960s they were comprised of two separate pastes that, when mixed, would start a chemical reaction that would lead to a hardened composite. These substances were benoxyl peroxide and tertiary amine, and while an improvement over the amalgam fillings they were still difficult to work with. Later advances were built off this foundation, but with improvements that made them handle easier, look more natural than the original versions, and hold up better over time.
When Did Composite Fillings First Become Available?
The first arrival of composites on the dental scene didn’t occur until the 1960s, as we mentioned earlier. Over the following years, they became an increasingly popular choice for patients in need of fillings, but the amalgams remained available as well due to their cheaper cost. In most cases, patients preferred the natural appearance and feel of composite fillings, as well as their greater durability and staying power meaning they wouldn’t have to maintained or replaced as often as amalgams. Today composites are an incredibly popular choice due to all these factors.
Are Composites Right For My Dental Needs?
Composites are a great choice for anyone who may be in need of a filling, whether as the result of damage to the tooth or through decay. This form of restoration dentistry ensures that your teeth will endure longer than amalgams as well as look more like your natural teeth.
How Do I Care For My Composite Fillings?
Caring for your composite fillings isn’t difficult, you just need to take the same amount of care with them as you would your natural teeth. Brush twice a day, floss once, mind the sugar levels in your diet and continue to see your dentist twice a year and your composite teeth will last you a lifetime. Your dentist will be able to give you further instructions on caring for them.
Composite fillings remain the most popular choice for patients requiring restoration dentistry that doesn’t involve the full replacement of a tooth. The experts at the Alvarado Family Dental Center in Walnut Park CA help patients like you restore their beautiful smiles with treatments like composite fillings every day. With one phone call, you can have an appointment with Dr. Alireza Movassaghi and be on your way to a future with bright, durable composite fillings and a smile you can be proud of.