White Fillings Blue Bell

Of course, the main reason people choose white fillings is that they look attractive. Nobody wants to show off their cavities, and when metal fillings rust and turn black, they can look as bad as or worse than the cavity they fill.

White fillings also have the benefit that they insulate your teeth. Metal amalgam fillings conduct temperature changes deep into your teeth, which can lead to sensitivity. Another cause of sensitivity is micro leaks around the filling because metal amalgam doesn’t bond to your natural teeth. But white fillings do bond, creating a tight seal with your natural teeth.

White fillings can also be very durable. They are not as strong as metal amalgam, but when properly placed, they can last for many years, even decades.

Finally, while metal amalgam fillings contain toxic mercury, white fillings are mercury-free. The composite contains plastics that have been tested for safety.

What Are White Fillings?

White fillings are fillings that look more like your natural teeth. They can be matched precisely to the color of your natural teeth. With proper placement and polishing, they can be virtually indistinguishable from your natural teeth.

White fillings come in two different forms: composite fillings and ceramic fillings. Ceramic fillings are also called inlays and onlays.

Composite fillings are made of a combination of resin (plastic) with ceramic inclusions for strength. The composite fillings start as a spreadable paste. This can be mixed with dye to ensure the perfect match between the filling and your natural tooth enamel.

Once Dr. Siegel has the perfect color, he will apply the filling to your cavity, carefully ensuring the cavity is filled without voids or holes. Then the cavity is hardened using a curing light. If the cavity is deep, Dr. Siegel might apply the filling in several layers to ensure it is all properly hardened. Finally, the filling is polished, giving it the luster of natural tooth enamel.

How We Achieve Painless Fillings

One of the biggest innovations that our patients enjoy at Dental Excellence of Blue Bell is not the filling itself, but the way the tooth is prepared for the filling. Discomfort from getting a filling is related to the vibration and heat from a dental drill. The vibrations and temperature change irritate the pulp inside the tooth. When it’s irritated, the pulp becomes inflamed and swells.

Since there’s nowhere for the pulp to expand from the middle of the tooth, the swelling increases the pressure, leading to pain.

But Dr. Siegel has gotten rid of the drill for most fillings. Instead, he uses either hydroabrasion or laser dentistry.

In hydroabrasion, a high-speed jet of water, combined with abrasive particles (aluminum oxide, commonly found in toothpaste), hits your tooth, wearing away the damaged parts of the tooth. The cool water keeps the tooth from heating up, and the steady water flow means there are no vibrations to irritate the tooth pulp.

With a hard tissue laser, Dr. Siegel uses a powerful laser to cut away parts of the tooth. This allows for fast, accurate treatment without vibrations. Though the laser does create heat, the pulses are so short that the heat doesn’t build up in the tooth, so the pulp doesn’t get irritated.

Not only that, but neither approach has the high-pitched whine people associate with the dental drill that can cause significant anxiety.

Skill, Experience, and Technology Mean Great Fillings in Blue Bell

If you are looking for a dentist who can treat your cavities giving you not only great results but a great experience, you are looking for Dr. Siegel at Dental Excellence of Blue Bell. With over 35 years of experience helping people in the Montgomery County area with a full range of dental problems, Dr. Siegel has placed thousands of fillings. He knows how to get the right results. He also knows what technologies truly help you have a great, painless filling experience.

To learn how you can get attractive, durable fillings without the discomfort of drilling, please call (610) 272-0828 today for an appointment at Dental Excellence of Blue Bell.