Fillings

What is the purpose of a filling?

Fillings are used to seal small cavities and caries that occur in the enamel of the teeth. This prevents bacteria from entering your tooth and causing further decay. Fillings also restore your ability to chew without pain, and, of course, restore the appearance of your tooth.

What type of fillings does Dr. Yang use?

While fillings are available in a variety of materials, Dr. Yang favors those made of composite resin. Composite resin is a unique matrix that blends resins and other materials to create a hard, cement-like substance. In its original state, the resin is clear and extremely thick. Small pieces of glass are added that can make the resin appear cloudy or opaque. When mixing the components, Dr. Yang can include tint that adds just enough color to the resin to make it the same shade as the tooth it's being used on.

Resin is only malleable for a short time and must be put in place and shaped rather quickly. Once it begins to harden, Dr. Yang can file or sand it down to match the surface of the tooth. Because of its transparency or the ability to use light tints, fillings that are made with composite resins are practically invisible unless you know what you're looking for. On average, composite resin fillings last about eight years.

Are composite resin fillings safer than other materials?

Composite fillings are safer than old-school amalgam fillings because they don’t contain any mercury.  If you want to avoid the risks that come with mercury exposure, composite resin is the best choice.  Also, composite resin fillings harden quickly, so you can chew on it right away, while amalgam fillings that must cure for hours. Call or book an appointment online for a consultation about composite resin fillings with Dr. Yang.