Composite Resins
If you're embarrassed about your smile because of decayed, disfigured or discolored teeth, you may be a good candidate for composite resins. A composite resin is mixture of microscopic ceramic and glass particles dispersed in a plastic resin that can be bonded to teeth. The material comes in a wide range of shades to precisely match your tooth color and can be molded and sculpted to create almost any shape or contour.
Composite resins, also called composite bonding, may be the ideal solution to repair a tooth that is:
- Chipped
- Cracked
- Slightly misaligned
- Irregularly spaced
- Smaller than adjacent teeth
- Misshaped
Composite bonding with resin materials rarely requires local anesthesia. Dr. Olson prepares the tooth with a slightly abrasive solution and simply applies the resin directly to your tooth. He then artistically molds and sculpts the material. Each application is dried with a special curing light. Dr. Olson repeats the procedure until the desired result is achieved.
A Tooth Decay & Cavity Treatment
Alternatively, these same composite resin materials are used to repair a cavity with a tooth-colored filling. For years, the material of choice for a filling was a mixture or amalgam of metals. Although these fillings are strong and durable, they do have drawbacks. Made of metals including silver, these fillings are noticeable against your otherwise white smile. In addition, people with metal sensitivity might be bothered by these fillings, and although the research is not conclusive, there may be a risk of mercury toxicity from metal fillings.
A composite resin filling is a much more conservative choice, meaning more of your tooth’s original structure is left intact. In layman's terms this means that Dr. Olson will not need to use the drill as much as for an amalgam filling. Thus, once the tooth-colored filling is in place, your tooth will be stronger. Moreover, the fact that the resin chemically bonds to your remaining structure means a seal is formed to reduce the change of leakage, which is common with silver fillings.
Composite resins offer a non-invasive way to improve your smile and repair a tooth damaged by decay or injury. If you have any concerns about the appearance of your teeth, give us a call for an evaluation and to see if bonding with composite resin will give you the smile you’ve always wanted and the enhanced self-confidence that goes along with it.