Composite fillings are one of the most popular choices when it comes to corrective dental work. Considered both restorative and cosmetic, this treatment fixes damage or decay, manages related pain, and returns function to the tooth. It’s also aesthetically pleasing!
At Walton Center for Family Dentistry, we conduct routine exams during biannual checkups in order to catch any signs or symptoms of dental problems before they worsen. Our team works hard to ensure your comfort before, during and after you visit.
Why Would You Need Composite Fillings?
A filling is needed when you have a tooth that suffered damage or decay. When this happens, one of our top rated dentists will go in, remove the decay, and clean the affected area. To prevent future bacteria from getting into this now open space, the tooth is then filled with a dental material.
This filling can also be used to repair cracked, chipped or broken teeth. In addition, composite material is often used for inlays and onlays (link to new page), which are a form of indirect filling.
Deciding on a Type of Filling
Before deciding on a treatment plan, we’ll do a thorough examination of your mouth to diagnose the issue. Once that is done, a dentist will discuss your options for fillings. You can ask us any questions, we’re happy to answer them all. With treatment, we consider the tooth’s location for both appearance and function purposes, the size of the cavity, past dental history, and cost.
The most common types of fillings are made out of gold, silver amalgam or tooth-colored composites.
Composite resin fillings are made out of a ceramic and plastic compound. Since they are tooth-colored, the shade of the filling matches your natural teeth.
What to Know About Tooth-Colored Fillings
We recommend the composite material for patients looking for a smile with no obvious differences after the dental work is done. This type of filling blends in naturally with your surrounding teeth. It also bonds with the existing structure of the tooth for better support. And the flexibility of the composite resin means less work needs to be done to prepare the existing tooth. This results in less drilling and a more intact tooth structure.
Fillings made of composite material last at least five years with proper care, but they aren’t as durable as some of the other options when it comes to bite force.
The process of putting in a composite filling takes slightly longer than other types of fillings because the work is more involved. The attention to detail and equipment used for this minimally-invasive procedure requires more technique because of how the composite must bond to the existing tooth. Our Loganville dental office is experienced in composite fillings.
Your dentist will first use a local anaesthetic to numb the tooth before removing the decay. We will clean the area after testing to make sure all of the decay was cleared away. Composite fillings are then applied in layers, using a light to harden between each one. We make sure the tooth is kept dry during this time. After the work is done, the final filling is shaped and polished. And you’re good to go!
Cost of Composite Fillings
The cost of composite fillings tends to be more than other types of fillings because of the material used. The average cost is around $130 to $250 per tooth. Once you visit our office, we’ll discuss a more accurate estimate of cost based on your individual treatment plan. We work with patients to make dental care as affordable as possible because we believe patients deserve to look and feel their best.
Our practice accepts most major insurance providers and has other financial options available as well, including discount offers and no-interest payment plans. For most insurances, they will typically cover the cost up to the price of a silver amalgam filling and then the patient is expected to match the rest. The difference in pricing between composite and silver material usually ends up being less than $50.
Whether you need affordable composite fillings for a cavity or another kind of dental work, our team is available to answer questions and assist with treatment decisions. Our office is conveniently located in Loganville. For patients looking for affordable and compassionate care from dentists experienced in general, restorative and cosmetic dentistry services, we’re here to help.