White fillings from our dentist in Crawley
The humble filling is one of the most important procedures performed at our dentist in Crawley. But no longer are white fillings restricted or an exclusive treatment, with UV cured composites now becoming the everyday. So let’s find out more about how fillings are performed and the versatility of composites in dentistry.
Filling process
Identifying cavities is the first step to treating them. Unless very severe, you are unlikely to have any physical discomfort from a cavity. And even when noticed by our team, it may require exploring with a dental probe in order to check its depth. Cavities are formed by colonies of bacteria growing in the recesses of teeth and anaerobic respiration producing lactic acid that destroys the enamel. Thoroughly cleaning out these bacteria and the affected dentine and enamel darkened by acid damage is the priority in the filling stage for our team.
Once the cavity is completely clear, sealing it can begin and the resin is applied using a syringe that is pre-mixed to match the enamel. It is made from a blend of resin and ceramic glass components increasing its toughness and durability. The cavity is filled and UV light is applied. This can be done multiple times during a deep filling, applying the resin and light alternately to ensure thorough curing. Please note that the UV shield is used on our lamp to focus the UV light where it is needed.
Flexibility of composite
From the clinical perspective what makes UV resins so different to metal amalgams is the putty that is formed in the filling stage. Metal amalgam sets very quickly, creating a hard time limit on what can be done during the procedure, but the curing is entirely under our control during a composite filling allowing more detailed and thorough work to be carried out.
And when we pre-mix resin at our dentist in Crawley we can colour blend it with your natural enamel tone. The set resin is easily shaped and sculpted and can be used extensively in a wide range of dental restorations, straddling the line between fillings and crowns by forming a hard protective and structural support for teeth. They can easily be used in thin layers on the front of teeth, as an in-situ veneer or to fill cracked teeth and even corner chips. Composite material is hard-wearing enough to be used directly on biting surfaces that get the most wear and tear during eating.
Do composite fillings hurt?
We practice patient-focused comfortable dentistry, ensuring that no procedure takes place until appropriate local anaesthetic has been provided. The drilling process in all fillings would be painful if carried out without precautions! But there is no additional discomfort compared to traditional amalgam fillings or or any long-term considerations; some people do experience temperature sensitivity with metal fillings as well as a reaction to silver foil; this does not occur with composites.
If you would like more information about how our dentist in Crawley could help you either with white filling replacements for metal amalgam or general dentistry, please feel free to get in contact with the clinic. We are currently accepting new patients and would be happy to hear from you.