DENTAL TOOTH COLOR FILLINGS

     EVERY TOOTH MATTERS TO US…
     A great smile starts with each and every single tooth being healthy, and this is not to be taken for granted. At Sea Smile International Dental Clinic, we share the same sentiment. We utilize the most modern and advanced techniques like Tooth-Colored Dental Fillings or Porcelain Inlays & Onlays procedures to restore your tooth’s natural appearance and functionality. We have also integrated the sophisticated and state-of-the-art CEREC® System into our Restorative Dentistry practice to obtain faster end-results that are as stable and predictable as ever.
Sometimes a tooth may chip, break, or fracture by either tooth-decay or by unavoidable circumstances like injury or accident. A fractured or broken tooth usually becomes highly-sensitive and will likely cause a soft-tissue trauma to certain areas within your oral cavity.
When a tooth-decay is involved, it starts from the outer surface and progresses towards the inner part of your tooth known as the dentin. Upon reaching the dentin, the decay creates an opening to bacterial infection which would make your tooth start to feel sensitivity, and eventually pain. When the pain increases, so does the dysfunction of the tooth, because it is likely that you would try to avoid chewing with your affected tooth. Moreover, when the infected tooth is left untreated, the decay progresses into the pulp chamber, which eventually leads to more serious conditions like fracturing, breaking, or chipping.

TOOTH-COLORED DENTAL FILLINGS
     At Sea Smile International Dental Clinic, we only produce the best – only natural and silver-free smiles are what we provide… Gone are the days when teeth were filled with an unattractive mixture (amalgam) of different metals.  
Tooth-colored fillings are far more advantageous compared to traditional amalgam or metallic fillings. They are formulated by tooth-like materials (composite resin or porcelain) which are both safe and yields predictable results. They also provide adequate durability and good resistance to wear-and-tear, withstanding slight to moderate pressure from constant chewing forces. They can either be used to treat front or back teeth, and best of all, their appearance is flawless.

    

     Rebuilding your tooth – or restoring it to its natural look and function – is the ultimate purpose of a tooth-colored filling treatment. And to achieve this, a good bond between the resin materials to both the enamel and the dentin is necessary. Metallic fillings or amalgams are not capable of bonding with a tooth; they simply rest on it to provide a certain degree of protection. This has led science & technology to discover the natural bonding qualities of composite resins to the tooth. Tooth-colored fillings recreate a tooth that not only looks, but responds to it naturally – passively receiving biting force without excessive stress.

 

TOOTH-COLORED FILLINGS PROCEDURES
     Tooth-colored or Composite Fillings, despite being far more superior to an amalgam, normally takes longer to place and the procedure is technique sensitive. It primarily involves the elimination of any tooth-decay at first, as well as the elimination of any discomfort or pain that you’re experiencing. Local anesthesia is usually administered before your treatment begins, and our dental assistant provides moisture control throughout the procedure as tooth-colored fillings are particularly sensitive to moisture contamination.
Your dentist may choose to isolate the tooth completely from the rest of the oral cavity while placing the filling by using a rubber dam. This allows the tooth to be restored to project through the rubber dam sheet while keeping all other oral structures away from it, thus preventing saliva contamination of the tooth while the filling is placed.
     The required shade is chosen using a shade guide in natural light. Tooth-colored filling materials are commonly available in many shades, to match a wide range of tooth colors. Once set, it can be polished to produce a smooth and shiny surface that perfectly blends with the tooth color and appear as natural as possible. Setting/Curing the filling is carried out with the use of blue curing lamp. This technique provides your dentist more time to fully adapt the plastic material to the tooth as required, before using the curing lamp to fully harden it in a controlled manner.
Producing the final shiny surface of the completed filling is where artistry comes in. Polishing strips, discs, and burrs are utilized to artistically blend the hardened filling with your tooth. Although the tooth-like filling is fully set upon the completion of your treatment, you will be advised not to attempt any chewing until the local anesthetic has worn off.

DENTAL INLAYS & ONLAYS
     Sea Smile International Dental Clinic recommends the Dental Inlays or Onlays Treatment when your tooth requires restoration from a mild to moderate crack or fracture, but are not amply damaged to be in need of a dental crown, whether tooth-decay is involved or not. These procedures tend to conserve more of your natural tooth’s structure as dental crowns usually requires further removal of valuable tooth structure to be placed appropriately. Other features of dental inlays/onlays include:

DURABILITY – Dental inlays and onlays are made only from sturdy and wear-resistant materials, which can actually last up to 30 years.

PROVIDES STRENGTH – Unlike conventional metal fillings or amalgams which reduces the strength of your teeth by up to 50%, dental inlays and onlays actually provides reinforcement by up to 75%.

EXTENDS TOOTH-LIFE – Dental inlays/onlays protects the bonds with and protect the inner enamel (dentin) of the tooth, thus prolonging its life span and simultaneously prevents the need for more serious dental treatment in the future.

     Dental Inlays and Onlays are also applicable when the need for old fillings to be replaced arises. An Inlay is much more similar to a dental filling and suitably fits inside the cusps (top edge or cutting surfaces) your tooth. An Onlay on the other hand, is more voluminous, and therefore extends over the cusps of your treated tooth.

DENTAL INLAY/ONLAY PROCEDURES
     An inlay or onlay procedure is more extensive in comparison with a tooth-colored filling treatment; hence it normally requires two visits to complete. During the initial visit, your dentist will eliminate the old fillings and/or existing tooth-decay (if there are any) under local anesthesia. Afterwards, an impression of your tooth will be taken so that our laboratory will be able fabricate a model from which your new inlay or onlay may be produced, either in porcelain or composite resin material.
The next visit would involve the placement of the dental inlay or onlay, by which it is cemented in place and your dentist will perform various techniques to successfully it blend with the treated tooth and the rest of your teeth as well, to achieve a natural and pleasing appearance.

CEREC® TECHNOLOGY – Our Technology for Cutting-edge Restorative Dentistry
     At Sea Smile International Dental Clinic, we combine our skills with the most modern and advanced technology available, particularly in our Restorative Dentistry practice.

     Cerec® is a unique and all-in-one (designing & milling) high-tech system that enables us to produce your porcelain inlay or onlay in the most natural, durable, and aesthetically pleasing manner.

     Utilizing the power of CAD/CAM (computer-aided designing/manufacturing) and digital imaging, we are able to take a 3-dimensional digital model of your tooth and the system itself designs and expertly mills the inlay or onlay from a porcelain block. Once the dental inlay/onlay comes out of the machine, your dentist will conveniently cement it in place, because everything was done in precision.

     With Cerec® Technology, we are able to provide dental restorations that are incredibly strong, due to the fact that they are directly milled from a solid block of porcelain, which guarantees that they are protected from fracturing, and they actually fortifies the tooth as well. Best of all, they perfectly fit into the prepared surface of your tooth, significantly reducing the seam between the inlay/onlay and the tooth; thus keeping tooth-decay from eventually occurring underneath.

     The Cerec® system allows us to efficiently carry out your treatment in a single visit. Your dental inlay or onlay is made to perfectly blend with your tooth, on top of being strong, durable, and practically undetectable.

 

PROPER AFTERCARE OF YOUR RESTORATIONS
     Now that your tooth have been successful restored not only in appearance but more importantly in function, proper care should be noted to make them last longer. Remember that no matter how well they are placed, microscopically, the edges of may provide a new surface area for plaque and oral bacteria to adhere to, giving the potential for further decay attack if you don’t practice good oral hygiene.

     Consistently, high standards of oral hygiene must be maintained to prevent tooth-decay from coming back. This will involve the use of a good tooth brushing technique with a good quality fluoridated toothpaste, as well as floss, tape or interdental brushes. Ideally, a plaque-suppressing mouthwash should also be used routinely. Your standard of oral hygiene should be monitored and reinforced as necessary with regular visits to your dentist.
Similarly, you should take note to alter your diet when tooth-decay has been experienced previously. The intake of foods and drinks high in refined sugars or acids should be reduced as far as possible, and confined to mealtimes to allow the natural buffering action of saliva to minimize plaque accumulation.

     Always remember that the best restoration is no restoration at all. Prevention is better than cure. You can dramatically reduce the risk of tooth decay and other dental diseases with proper oral hygiene.

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