These treatments, also known as composite or “white” fillings, use a durable composite resin material to reinforce your teeth and provide resistance to fractures. They look like your natural teeth, so you may not even notice they are there. Tooth-colored fillings are now the standard method of treatment to address cavities in your teeth, replacing defective old metal and mercury fillings of the past. Tooth-colored fillings also provide an additional benefit: reducing the risks that mercury and amalgam filling material can pose to your health and to the environment.

Plus, tooth-colored filling treatments can often save more of the existing tooth before the filling is placed. Dr. Puerto can perform tooth-colored filling procedures for patients with new cavities, or for those who would like to replace their existing metal fillings with these safer, more aesthetically pleasing alternatives.

Cavities are caused by the destruction or weakening of your tooth enamel. Tooth enamel is the hard covering over the tooth that helps to protect the underlying bone and interior of the tooth.

Avoiding Cavities

There are some simple tricks that people can use to avoid or lessen the amount and severity of cavities that they get over the course of their lives.

• Brush twice a day with fluoride toothpaste – Brushing twice a day helps to remove the buildup of sugars and bacteria on your teeth. Toothpaste that contains fluoride helps to maintain the tooth’s natural enamel.
• Clean between your teeth every day – The use of floss or an interdental cleaner can help to remove food or sugars that get caught between the teeth and are not removed by brushing.
• Ask your dentist about supplemental fluoride – Many municipal water supplies are treated with fluoride to help the entire population’s dental health. However, if you do not live in one of these areas or you have issues with cavities, you should ask Dr. Puerto about adding supplemental fluoride to your health plan.
• Complete your regular checkups – Visiting us regularly can help to remove some of the more difficult plaque or buildup. These visits can also catch problems early when they are easily treatable rather than when they require complete tooth removal.

If you have increased tooth sensitivity or believe that you may have a cavity, you should schedule an appointment with us today!