Kansas City Dentist Blog – Dr. Castaneda

Most patients today prefer tooth-colored restorations over the more traditional silver or amalgam fillings for their cavities. There are two main choices available for tooth-colored restorations – tooth-colored fillings and porcelain inlays/onlays. The type of restoration you need and your personal preferences will determine which option we will recommend for you.

Tooth-colored composite fillings are made out of a combination of resin, glass, and other materials. They provide you with a safe and durable restoration that closely resembles the make-up of your natural teeth. The resin is inserted into your tooth in layers to fill the cavity. A curing light is used to harden the material and bond it to your tooth. The bonding process strengthens your tooth and protects it from bacteria. The entire process will be completed in one visit to our office. [More]

When a tooth goes missing, it puts the teeth around it in danger. A gap in the tooth structure makes the teeth around it unstable and may alter the bite (occlusion), cause shifting of other teeth, or even induce TMJ (temporomandibular joint disorder). In many cases, a dental bridge replaces the missing tooth. A cap or crown is placed on the two teeth surrounding the gap, anchoring a porcelain tooth in between called a pontic. There are three basic types of bridge options. [More]