Huntersville, NC Dental Fillings

When a cavity is caught before decay has spread too far, a filling can typically restore the tooth.

Cavities do not go away on their own, and decay tends to keep spreading until the affected area is removed and the tooth is properly restored. When a filling is delayed too long, patients may eventually require more extensive restorative treatment, such as crowns, bridges, root canals, or dental implants.

Metal, or amalgam, fillings were once the standard option, but tooth-colored composite material is now commonly recommended in many dental practices today. Composite blends naturally with the surrounding tooth, so it tends to be far less noticeable than a metal filling. Tooth-colored fillings are also typically less reactive to hot and cold, which can mean less temperature-related sensitivity for many patients.

Composite fillings have also grown in popularity because they do not contain mercury, an ingredient once found in amalgam fillings. For this reason, many patients choose to have older amalgam fillings replaced with tooth-colored alternatives.