As you celebrate the holidays, you may have some issues with an often overlooked dental problem – old fillings and restorations that need to go!
Your friends at Elizabeth Kilpatrick-Fox, DMD can offer an alternative to standard metal fillings to update your dental work that has several advantages!

Tooth-Colored Fillings Keep Your Smile Bright & Healthy

Here are a few reasons we might recommend tooth-colored fillings to our Swedesboro patients to keep their smiles merry and bright:

*When Old Fillings Need To Go*

In most cases, metal fillings are meant to last about a decade, give or take a couple of years.
Eventually, you might have tiny openings between the dental cement and your tooth that are susceptible to oral bacteria.
You may also start to experience tooth sensitivity with hot and cold food or drinks after several years.
We can determine if you have an old dental filling that needs to be replaced!

*A Mouth Free Of Metal*

One of the most obvious reasons some patients avoid metal fillings is due to allergies or sensitivities to those materials.
Amalgam fillings dentists use are safe, but still, some people are concerned about mercury, so even if you aren’t sensitive to metal, you may have more peace of mind with a composite filling.

*Eat, Drink, & Be Merry*

This time of year, you will probably enjoy certain specialty foods and drinks that are either really hot or really cold.
That can be uncomfortable if you have metal fillings because metal conducts temperature really well, which can lead to increased tooth sensitivity to hot chocolate or ice cream. Composite fillings aren’t affected by temperature the same way, so you can eat, drink, and be merry!

*The Protection Of Composite Fillings*

While metal is more rigid, tooth-colored fillings protect your teeth a bit more effectively because of the flexibility of the composite material.
Why does that matter?
Because you may not realize that your teeth are actually flexible, although it’s not to the extent that you’d ever notice. A metal filling won’t adjust to a tooth as it caves and expands, which can lead to tiny fractures that are vulnerable to bacteria. Composite fillings, on the other hand, have the flexibility to absorb those undetectable forces and prevent damage to your tooth.

*A Bright Holiday Smile*

Perhaps a benefit you’d least expect from a dental filling is a brighter, better-looking smile.
With tooth-colored fillings, we use a composite material that blends in beautifully with your surrounding teeth. That means you won’t see any evidence left behind from a cavity, and neither will anyone else!

Schedule An Appointment Today!

Replacing an old metal filling with a composite filling has several advantages, so if you’re insecure about dark spots in your smile or are experiencing any problems with tooth pain or sensitivity, be sure to call us right away for an appointment.
Call Elizabeth Kilpatrick-Fox, DMD today at 856-997-2767 or fill out our online form to arrange your visit to our Swedesboro practice.