{"id":129,"date":"2018-08-26T18:45:32","date_gmt":"2018-08-26T18:45:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.longmontcompletedentistry.com\/blog\/?p=129"},"modified":"2018-08-26T18:46:24","modified_gmt":"2018-08-26T18:46:24","slug":"a-longmont-dentist-compares-metal-vs-tooth-colored-fillings","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.longmontcompletedentistry.com\/blog\/2018\/08\/26\/a-longmont-dentist-compares-metal-vs-tooth-colored-fillings\/","title":{"rendered":"A Longmont Dentist Compares Metal vs Tooth-Colored Fillings"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-130\" src=\"https:\/\/www.longmontcompletedentistry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/rsz_adobestock_194228504-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"Dental fillings\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.longmontcompletedentistry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/rsz_adobestock_194228504-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.longmontcompletedentistry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/rsz_adobestock_194228504-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.longmontcompletedentistry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/rsz_adobestock_194228504-1024x768.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Even if you brush your teeth every day and visit the dentist regularly, it is still possible for your teeth to develop cavities. In fact, a staggering 92% of U.S. adults ages 20 to 64 have had at least one cavity, according to the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research. To protect teeth from further damage after a cavity, dentists recommend placing a filling in the space left from decay. But which type of filling is the best? In this blog post, a Longmont dentist compares the two most common types of dental fillings and explains why <a href=\"https:\/\/www.longmontcompletedentistry.com\/tooth-colored-fillings.html\">tooth-colored fillings<\/a> are the superior choice to protect teeth from further decay.<\/p>\n<p><!--more--><\/p>\n<h2>What is a Dental Filling?<\/h2>\n<p>Dental fillings help return teeth damaged by cavities back their normal shape and function. If you have a cavity, your dentist will first remove the decayed portion of the tooth and then \u201cfill\u201d the area to prevent further damage and preserve the tooth\u2019s remaining healthy structure.<\/p>\n<p>Two common types of filling are:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Metal fillings<\/strong> \u2013 also called amalgam fillings \u2013 are made from a combination of metals such as silver, tin, copper and mercury.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Tooth-colored fillings<\/strong> \u2013 also known as composite fillings \u2013 are made from a mixture of plastic and ceramic.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Why Tooth-Colored Fillings are Better<\/h2>\n<p>Metal fillings contrast with the light white of tooth enamel, meaning they can really stand out when eating, speaking or laughing. One of the main reasons many patients choose tooth-colored fillings over traditional metal ones is for their more natural-looking appearance. The composite resin of tooth-colored fillings is designed to match the shade of natural tooth enamel, meaning the filling blends in seamlessly with the rest of your smile.<\/p>\n<p>In addition to the aesthetic superiority of tooth-colored fillings, other benefits include:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Composite resin is softer than the metal used in traditional fillings, which makes it easier for a dental professional to sculpt into place on your tooth.<\/li>\n<li>Composite fillings bond directly to the tooth, reducing the drilling needed and preserving more of your natural tooth.<\/li>\n<li>Composite resin is safe for everyone and typically does not cause any tooth sensitivity.<\/li>\n<li>Tooth-colored fillings can last for 10 to 15 years or even longer with proper oral hygiene like brushing, flossing and regular dental checkups.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Am I a Good Candidate?<\/h2>\n<p>If you have a tooth with a new cavity that must be treated, a tooth-colored filling in Longmont can provide long-lasting protection against further damage and decay. Even if you already have traditional metal fillings, tooth-colored fillings can be viable replacements in cases of defective or decayed metal fillings, or simply for improved aesthetics.<\/p>\n<p>If you are still unsure about which type of dental filling is right for you, speak with a cosmetic dentist in Longmont today. Together, you can make the best decision to preserve your healthy teeth and vibrant smile.<\/p>\n<h2>About the Practice<\/h2>\n<p>Longmont residents have relied on the trusted, family-friendly dental care of Longmont Complete Dentistry for over 30 years. Dr. James Maurer, his son Dr. Dan Maurer, and the team at Longmont Complete Dentistry offer a wide range of comprehensive dental services, including tooth-colored fillings and other restorative dentistry treatments. Patients old and new can contact Longmont Complete Dentistry via their <a href=\"https:\/\/www.longmontcompletedentistry.com\/contact-us.html\">website<\/a> or by calling the office at <a href=\"https:\/\/www.google.nl\/search?q=longmont+complete+dentistry&amp;oq=longmont+complete+dentistry&amp;aqs=chrome..69i57j69i60l3.4147j0j4&amp;sourceid=chrome&amp;ie=UTF-8\">303-772-7000<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Even if you brush your teeth every day and visit the dentist regularly, it is still possible for your teeth to develop cavities. In fact, a staggering 92% of U.S. adults ages 20 to 64 have had at least one cavity, according to the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research. To protect teeth from [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-129","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.longmontcompletedentistry.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/129","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.longmontcompletedentistry.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.longmontcompletedentistry.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.longmontcompletedentistry.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.longmontcompletedentistry.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=129"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.longmontcompletedentistry.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/129\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":132,"href":"https:\/\/www.longmontcompletedentistry.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/129\/revisions\/132"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.longmontcompletedentistry.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=129"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.longmontcompletedentistry.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=129"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.longmontcompletedentistry.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=129"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}