Bonded Filling
A Bonded Filling is a tooth colored composite resin that is used as an alternative to amalgams. This is often a safer option because it does not use heavy metals such as mercury or silver and it is an excellent cosmetic option for those patients who do not want the look of silver in their mouths. Procedure is done by both dr. Son and dr. Hira.
Why?
Cavities are holes in the teeth generated by bacteria. They use sugars in the diet to decay away at natural tooth structure and burry inside the tooth. Once the decay is removed, Fillings can help restore the lost tooth structure. If left alone cavities can often lead to bacteria burrowing farther into the tooth and reaching the inside of the tooth called the pulp (which contains the nerves and blood vessels of the tooth) leading to requirement of a root canal or removal of the tooth to alleviate symptoms of pain or infection. Sensitivity to cold or pain when eating sweets ONLY occurs when the cavity or hole is very close to the nerve. When symptoms occur, often cavities are quite deep and may require further procedures to save the tooth. However, therefore it is important to remove cavities once found even though they do not cause pain or sensitivity.
Benefits
Removing cavities and replacing with fillings will prevent the further progress of bacteria to the pulp chamber. Using tooth colored bonded fillings will help restore tooth structure strengthening the teeth and helping with esthetics. The avoidance of Amalgam fillings will prevent cracking of the teeth and increase their longevity. Also, bonded restorations require less tooth removal when preparing the teeth allowing Dr. Hira and Dr. son to preserve more of the natural tooth structure.
