Looking to get some fillings? Patients in Tucson, AZ are learning of benefits offered by composite fillings

If it has been a while since you last got a filling (maybe you have not needed one since you were a kid) then it may surprise you to see how much has changed. It used to be that most fillings were done using metal amalgam. As time has progressed, so have dental techniques. One such change in the field of dentistry is the use of tooth-colored composite fillings. Dr. Colby Echols and his team at Swan Dental in Tucson, AZ, use this strong durable composite filling material to restore the functionality of your teeth.

Any dentist who has decided to change from amalgam fillings to composite has their reasons for doing so. Let us look at some common reasons why dentists across the globe have been making this change.

Natural Appearance

Amalgam fillings were used for years because they were incredibly strong and sturdy. If we are being honest, they are not the most attractive. If you have received an amalgam filling in the past, then you know that they leave you with a significantly unattractive piece of metal in your mouth. It is hardly a natural look. Composite fillings, on the other hand, provide a completely natural look while losing none of the strength offered by amalgam fillings. You could have multiple composite fillings in some of your front teeth, and nobody would ever know they are there.

Composite Fillings Require Fewer Restrictions

When an individual receives an amalgam filling, a list of do’s and don’ts was most likely included. There was a list of foods that had to be avoided, you were told how to brush around the filling, etc. Amalgam fillings need a bit more care when they are first put in. Composite fillings require no such restrictions. Once a composite filling is placed, you will likely be told (maybe) not to chew on hard foods or ice for a bit, but there are not many restrictions. You can eat (mostly) what you want as soon as the anesthetic that was applied before the dental work was done wears off.

If you need a filling and would like to know more about what composite fillings offer, please reach out to Dr. Colby Echols at Swan Dental in Tucson, AZ by calling (520) 595-3655.