Tooth sensitivity is often the sign of a cavity. In that case, your dentist will likely recommend a filling to pack the hole created by decay. While some providers use silver-coated fillings, they lack many of the advantages of composite ones. The guide below looks at what sets the latter apart.

Why Choose Composite Dental Fillings?

1. Color

Composite fillings are also known as “white fillings” since your dentist will carefully match their color to your other teeth. This will give you a more natural appearance than if they were silver.

2. Sensitivity

After getting a filling, many patients become more sensitive to hot and cold on their teeth and temperature changes can even be painful. This is because heat makes most materials expand—and the filling material expands and contracts at a different rate than the tooth enamel around it. However, composite fillings are closer to matching your enamel's expansion rate than metal fillings are, so they cause less sensitivity.

3. Tooth Strength

After a tooth has been damaged by decay, you need to consider whether it might break or sustain more damage in the future. White fillings are better at protecting your teeth from further problems. The resin material bonds to the tooth enamel instead of simply sitting inside the hole like metal amalgam, so it offers extra support. Also, when your dentist cleans out the cavity, he won't have to create as large a hole, so more of the original tooth structure will remain intact.

If you need to see a dentist for restorative treatments or teeth cleaning, choose Steckelberg Dental in Lincoln, NE. Serving Lancaster County, Dr. Steckelberg likes to give back to the community by providing school dental screenings and serving in a number of leadership positions including Treasurer of the Nebraska Dental Association. To learn more about the wide range of treatment options offered, visit the website. Call (402) 489-7800 to set an appointment.