White dental fillings (or composite resins) are the current modern filling material of choice used at St. Lawrence Dentistry and most clinics in North America.
The new white filling materials have many advantages over their predecessors, and they are continually improved. One of the favorable properties of dental composites is that they can bond to the tooth structure. No removal of healthy tooth structure is needed. In contrast, older filling materials like amalgam required an excess of tooth structure removal to make a ‘retentive undercut’. Using white filling material has lead to fillings being smaller and more conservative, which, of course, is better for your tooth.
St. Lawrence Dentistry only uses the composites from GC Corporation, which are considered the leaders in white filling/composite technology. This premium brand composite has many advantages for the patient. One of the main GC products is ‘G-ænial injectable’. It is easy for Dr. Hawryluk to shape, sculpt, and polish this fabulous material onto your tooth. G-ænial injectable provides a robust, wear-resistant, and radiopaque finished tooth restoration with beautiful esthetics. A self-shining effect enables simple finishing with a bur to bring the tooth restoration to a brilliant luster that will continue to increase in polish over time with excellent “chameleon” shade match to the enamel. This feature helps St. Lawrence Dentistry provide an exceptional clinical outcome for a wide variety of clinical procedures.
The key to success in white fillings is the precision and technique that Dr. Hawryluk Jr. uses to place them. During the filling preparation, any drilling is at a slow pace with the proper water cooling. A very low RPM settled is used for deeper areas. Appropriate amounts of dental bonding agent must be applied, and the white filling material should be put in and set in small layers. Ensuring a white filing is sensitivity-free and long-lasting are Dr. Hawryluk’s top priorities. He will take all the necessary steps and time needed to make the best white filling possible for you.
Dental cavities, as their name implies, are holes in your teeth caused by decay. You can sometimes spot a dental cavity by looking for a dark brown or gray hue. The main culprits to blame for dental cavities are certain types of bacteria in your mouth. The bacteria are in plaque, and they interact with the carbohydrates and sugars in your food, creating an acidic environment that dissolves the protective enamel on the outer layer of your tooth. Once the acid succeeds in eroding the tooth enamel, your tooth is exposed, leaving just the softer dentin layer, which will ultimately cause the formation of a cavity. At this point, the decay process rapidly speeds up and spreads further into the tooth. In addition to potential pain and discomfort and possible tooth loss, if you wait to have your cavity filled, it may end up requiring extensive treatment, such as a root canal and crown. The bottom line is you should get your cavity filled as soon as you can. After cleaning the decay, a bonding solution gets gently applied. Dental composite is pressed into place, filling the void. Composite is hardened by shining a high-intensity blue light. It only takes a few seconds for the materials to set. Dr. Hawryluk will verify the proper shape and look has been achieved. Now your new composite filling is complete!
Below is an example of before and photos of decayed teeth treated with white fillings:
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Caries/Cavities Dental Treatment
White fillings can repair chipped teeth. Below is an example of a repair of a tooth chip.
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A significant advantage of white filling material is its ability to match your existing tooth shade. A perfect match is especially critical when repairing teeth in the esthetic zone. Dental bonding differs from a ‘filling’ in that no tooth is drilled first in bonding. Below is an example of esthetic dental bonding at St. Lawrence Dentistry.
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Closing the Gaps for a Youthful Smile—an economical and conservative approach
One beautiful property of white fillings is they are repairable. St. Lawrence Dentistry sees patients where only a portion of an existing composite filling is defective. Dr. Hawryluk can remove the broken part and bond in the repair. Below is an example of a filling repair at St. Lawrence Dentistry.
Another judicious use of white filling material is the repair of dental erosion. When a patient has a dental recession, the root of the tooth is subject to the erosion forces of acidity (from drinks such as colas) and abrasion forces from brushing. A dent in the tooth root forms which can rapidly increase. Fortunately, the treatment is simple, with composite resin. Below is an example of the repair of dental erosion.
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Finally, another important function is white fillings is they can be used to replace older amalgam fillings. Amalgam fillings were once the prevailing dental filling material, but they have rapidly fallen out of favor for several valid reasons. To ensure the health of your tooth, Dr. Hawryluk takes several necessary precautions when removing amalgam fillings.
If you would like to learn more about this process, please visit us here:
Safely Removing Amalgam Fillings
If you would like to learn more about the recent advancements in white filling materials and their possible benefits to you, please call our office and book an appointment.
