Restorations & Fillings
Restoring your smile to its best & brightest.
Repairing your smile with tooth colored fillings.
Tooth colored fillings can be used to restore decayed teeth and bring back a beautiful smile. To treat a cavity, Dr. Taylor and Dr. Ball will remove the decayed portion of the tooth and then “fill” that area of the tooth.
First, the tooth and the surrounding area will be numbed using local anesthetic. Next, a drill will be used to remove the cavity. The tooth will be cleaned thoroughly using a chlorhexidine solution that will remove any remaining bacteria, lower post operative sensitivity, and increase filling to tooth bond strength.
Then the tooth-colored material is applied in layers. Next, a special light that "cures" or hardens each layer is applied. When the multilayering process is completed, Dr. Taylor or Dr. Ball will shape the composite material to the desired result, trim off any excess material and polish the final restoration.
Replacing your silver fillings with tooth-colored fillings.
Many people still have silver/mercury fillings from years past. These are not particularly pleasing to the eye, and ultimately result in a weaker tooth structure. The edges can wear down, become weak, or break, resulting in a loss of protection and allowing cavities to get started once again. With age, they can corrode, leak and cause your teeth to fracture.
Fortunately, silver fillings can safely be replaced with Tooth-Colored Restorations that are not only beautiful (or unnoticeable) but also add strength to weakened teeth. These restorations are aesthetically pleasing and very strong thanks to new bonding technologies.
Composite (Resin) allows for a more conservative design and less destruction to the natural tooth. In many cases, the resin can be patched or partially replaced, while silver fillings have to be replaced entirely. Dr. Ball and Dr. Taylor will choose from a variety of resin to beautifully match your individual tooth shade.
Resin can stain over time but can be “touched up” to revitalize the restoration. Tooth-Colored Restorations performed at Gulf Islands Dentistry result in a more attractive, durable, and mercury-free smile.
Contact us to schedule yours today!