Safe, Mercury-Free Tooth Fillings
by Dr. Carole Jewell, DMD, Red Bank, New Jersey Cosmetic Dentist
Repair tooth cavities or replace your old silver-amalgam tooth fillings with safe, durable mercury-free tooth-colored composite fillings.
A composite filling is a tooth-colored filling used to fix a damaged tooth. Teeth can be damaged by many things, including decay, fractures, and cracks. Although fillings can consist of a variety of different materials, the most widely used are composite fillings and silver amalgam. Dr. Sherrod Jewell prefers only safe, mercury-free composite tooth fillings.
Reasons for composite fillings
- Closing gaps between teeth
- Repairing chipped teeth
- Fixing cracked, broken, or decayed teeth
- Strengthening worn teeth
How are composite fillings applied?
Composite fillings can usually be applied in just one appointment. First, Dr. Sherrod Jewell will numb your tooth before removing any decay. Then the space must be cleaned thoroughly to prevent infection before the dentist can place the new filling. Sometimes a tooth has decay near its nerve. In that case, Dr. Sherrod Jewell will apply a special medication also.
Dr. Sherrod Jewell will carefully place the composite filling and then shape and polish the tooth. You will also be instructed to check your bite. Some sensitivity to hot and cold temperatures is normal after first receiving a composite filling. The sensitivity will disappear after the tooth adjusts to the new filling.
Your composite filling should last many years. Visiting your dentist for check-ups on a regular basis and practicing good oral hygiene between visits can make a significant difference in the life of your new filling.