Composite Fillings

Dr keri with patient

Composite Fillings In Phoenix, AZ

At Agave Dental, we work hard to keep your teeth clean, healthy, and free from decay and other dental issues.

Unfortunately, despite our best efforts, you may still wind up with the occasional cavity. Regular check-ups will ensure that if you do happen to develop a cavity, we’ll catch it quickly and take care of it using state-of-the-art conservative treatments that will halt the cavity’s progress and leave your teeth attractive and healthy.

We value your health and the beauty of your smile, and that’s why Agave Dental dentists only use composite fillings to fill cavities and perform other small repairs. For decades, silver-colored amalgam fillings were the standard, but now, a better way to fill cavities is available, and we’re proud to provide this modern option to our patients.

Why Composite Fillings?

Dentist with Child PatientWe’ve found that composite resin fillings have a number of significant advantages over the old silver fillings. If you currently have silver fillings, you may already be aware of the problems these fillings can occasionally present:

  • Silver amalgam fillings leave dark spots on your teeth that give away the fact that you have had a cavity filled. Over time, the fillings get darker and become even more easily visible. If you’ve had extensive fillings in the past, you may find that you’ve become self-conscious about smiling or laughing.
  • Amalgam fillings contain a small amount of mercury. While multiple studies by the CDC and U.S. Public Health Department have shown no link between adverse health effects and the mercury in fillings, most people would prefer not to have any mercury at all in their mouths.
  • Amalgam fillings are made of metal and, like all metals, expand and contract in response to temperature changes. Over time, this can cause the fillings to become loose. Once this happens, it’s possible for decay to begin again behind the filling. Additionally, the filling may fall out or even damage the tooth.

Composite fillings have none of these concerns. The tooth-colored resin can be perfectly blended to match the natural shade of your tooth, allowing the filling to blend in flawlessly with the rest of your teeth. The composite resin is made up of a mixture of plastic and porcelain and contains no potentially harmful chemicals. Additionally, because of the way composite fillings are placed, we are actually able to preserve more of your natural tooth structure, and the fillings are more stable and less likely to come loose than metal fillings.

What Are Cavities?

Everyone’s mouth naturally has millions of bacteria. These bacteria are actually the culprits behind cavities. When you consume foods that are high in sugar or carbohydrates, these bacteria are able to thrive. They mix with your saliva and cling to your teeth in the form of plaque. The bacteria then excrete acid, which slowly erodes the enamel coating of your tooth. In time, a pit or hole begins to form in the structure of your tooth. This is a cavity.

Brushing regularly and rinsing your mouth after eating sugary or carbohydrate-rich foods will help to keep your mouth free of sugary residue and will also remove plaque from your teeth. Regular cleanings at Agave Dental will help get rid of any traces of plaque that might remain.

To schedule your cleaning or check-up, call Agave Dental today.