Composite Fillings

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Composite Fillings

Fillings are a common dental procedure to restore a small area of a tooth that has been damaged by decay. Lupine Dental offers patients in Palmer, AK precise and high-quality composite fillings to restore and strengthen affected teeth.

What is a Composite Filling?

Fillings can be made of several different materials, including metal and ceramics but the composite fillings are most commonly used. These fillings are made from a combination of resin and other finely ground filler materials and can be matched to the color of your teeth, making them discreet as well as effective.

Signs You May Have a Cavity

You probably won’t notice tooth decay when it’s in the early stages but as it gets worse, you may start noticing these signs:

Sensitivity with hot or cold food or drink
Sudden tooth pain with no visible cause
Pain when chewing
Discoloration on the tooth
Irregularities in the tooth surface or even a visible hole

If you have any of these symptoms, it’s time to check in with Lupine Dental.

What to Expect From a Filling Appointment

In order to fix your tooth, the dentist will first need to numb the relevant area and gently remove any decay. Once the area has been prepared, the composite filling will be placed. Your tooth is now restored and your dentist will finish by polishing the filling to ensure your bite is as expected.

After your appointment, it’s common to have a little sensitivity around the filled tooth but this should wear off after a couple of days. If your tooth is still sensitive after a few days or you are experiencing pain, please contact our office.

With a good brushing and flossing routine, your composite filling should last for at least 5 years. Depending on other factors, such as where it is in the mouth, it may last a lot longer.

The Advantages of Composite Fillings

While silver amalgam fillings have been used by dentists for a long time, there are several benefits to using composite fillings instead:

Composite fillings can be matched to your tooth color, meaning they are not obvious and much more cosmetically and aesthetically pleasing.
Dentists don’t have to remove as much of the tooth in order to use composite fillings.
Composite fillings aren’t affected by temperature changes as amalgam fillings can be.
Composite resin can be used for other dental restoration work such as to close minor gaps between teeth or to fix chipped or misshapen teeth.

Don’t forget to schedule regular visits with Lupine Dental to find and treat cavities before they get worse and to make sure any existing fillings are still in good shape. Make your appointment today!

Dr. Hunter is great! Thorough and professional but also very relaxed and quiet atmosphere. The best part is how prompt the appointment is, starts on time and I didn't have to wait long to have my procedure completed either, which is excellent! The rooms have massage chairs and help make you more comfortable while you have your teeth cleaned and fixed. The front staff is friendly and helpful also- they will give you a cost estimate up front which I really appreciated so I could plan my visit.

Best dentist, hygienists, and office staff around! Modern, very clean, with extra special comforts you don’t find other places... like heat and massage chairs.

“They’re friendly and they’re warm and they treat you like a human being”

Composite Fillings