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Best Materials for Less Noticeable Fillings
Posted on 7/13/2019 by Dr. Elizabeth Vivona
Most of our patients end up having at least one filling. It is difficult to go through life without any dental decay. You may have the best oral health habits in the world, but there will always be some particle of food or some bit of acid that you can't reach. These cause the silent cavities.
That is why we recommend semi-annual dental checkups. We can spot these as they are forming. This also increases the choices of filling material we can use to fill the cavity and prevent further decay.
In the earlier days of dentistry, the only choices you had for filling materials were silver and gold. These metals that are placed in the cavity and shaped to your tooth. The advantage is that they last a long time. The disadvantage is that you can see them. They are typically used now for back teeth because of their strength and also because your back teeth aren't generally seen.
What Other Choices Are There? Dental science has come a long way and we have more tools in our tool chest than we used to have. Now you can get fillings that match your natural teeth. There are three kinds of filling material that are less noticeable they are ceramic, composite resin and glass ionomer.
Ceramic fillings are also called porcelain fillings because they are made of porcelain. They are stain-resistant, abrasion-resistant and can last for about 7 years. Ceramic fillings require two visits to complete. Composite resin also looks like your natural teeth. It is made of powdered glass and acrylic resin. This material bonds to your teeth and requires just one visit. We will apply the resin and then use a special light that heats and hardens the filling. They last about five or more years.
Glass ionomers are also made of glass and acrylic. They are applied differently than composite resin, usually in layers. They also last approximately five or more years.
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What Our Patients Are Saying About Us.
"Without a doubt the best dental office I've ever been a patient of. The dentists and their hygienists are all very friendly and knowledgable, and they do their best to make you as comfortable as possible. I haven't tried other dentists in Eugene, but I know I'm not alone in my opinion here… definitely recommend!" ~ Timothy
"Dr. Vivona was recommended to me by a friend and I couldn't be happier with my experience. While I wish I didn't need dental work, my experience with her has been great. She takes her time to make sure she's properly diagnosing. While doing the work, she was gentle, thorough and explained everything along the way, making sure I was comfortable. I highly recommend her" ~ Audrey
"I was greeted as I was walking in the door by two wonderful assistants. The hygienist was wonderful and encouraging through the whole exam. Over all the staff is the best I’ve encountered through dental and would recommend Dr. Vivona to anyone looking for quality and gentle care." ~Kimmi
Most of our patients end up having at least one filling. It is difficult to go through life without any dental decay. You may have the best oral health habits in the world, but there will always be some particle of food or some bit of acid that you can't reach. These cause the silent cavities. 
