When White Fillings Make More Sense Than Metal

When you have a small- to medium-sized cavity, the most important thing to do is get a filling so that the decay doesn’t spread, leading to bigger problems. Most people are familiar with the silver amalgam fillings that have been in use for generations, but modern dentistry offers a different choice: composite resin fillings. 

If you’ve never had a filling or you’ve had a bad experience, you may feel nervous about the procedure. Dr. Stephen Hiroshige has the experience and skill to save your tooth, quickly and virtually painlessly. He uses tooth-colored composite resins, and you get outstanding, durable results. 

How fillings work

Have you ever noticed how a piece of wood, like a stair railing or outdoor bench, decays? Or noticed how rust can slowly overtake a piece of metal left outside? Essentially, the same thing happens when you leave a cavity untreated. 

The decay spreads and grows, taking more and more of your tooth over time. Eventually, it can become infected, or you may have so little tooth left that the only option is extraction. 

A filling is a way to stop the decay. Dr. Hiroshige removes the decay, cleans the area, and then “fills” the area with composite resin. The resin hardens, and your tooth is nearly as good as new. 

Why resin is better

First, we should note that there’s nothing wrong with silver amalgam fillings. They’ve been in use for 150 years and are considered perfectly safe by the American Dental Association. 

Dr. Hiroshige prefers composite resin for a few reasons. First, it’s tooth-colored, so nearly undetectable, even if you have a filling in one of your front teeth. Also, silver amalgam turns from bright, shiny silver to dull gray to black over time, and most people don’t like the way that looks. 

Another advantage is that composite resin is applied in layers, and with each layer, Dr. Hiroshige seals and hardens it with a specialized light. That means as soon as you leave the office, you can return to eating regular food without worrying about waiting for your filling to harden. 

Finally, silver amalgam contains mercury. Although it’s a low enough level to be considered safe, why not choose a material that doesn’t contain mercury? 

What to expect

If you feel nervous about having a cavity filled, you certainly aren’t alone. Plenty of people have dental anxiety. But you should know that we do everything we can to make sure you’re comfortable throughout your procedure. 

Before beginning, we give you an anesthetic so that you don’t feel any pain. Dr. Hiroshige then uses tools to remove the decay and layers in the composite resin, hardening each layer. The last step is shaping and polishing the filling so that it looks like part of your natural tooth. 

You may feel some tenderness when the anesthetic wears off, but it’s generally mild and goes away within a couple of hours. You can return to all your normal activities immediately. 

If you suspect you have a cavity, schedule an appointment with Dr. Hiroshige in Garden, California. Stop the decay, prevent infection, save your tooth, and look great!