There are a number of ways to restore teeth that are damaged, diseased, or decayed.  The advances in modern dental materials and techniques allow us to provide you with natural-looking restorations that are both strong and durable. Our goal is to provide you with options for the best type of resoration.  Early detection is important to help you keep your teeth.  During your initial visit to our office, Dr. Burba will perform a complete examination of your mouth and a full set of x-rays will be taken to best evaluate your needs.

Types of fillings:

Amalgam (Silver) fillings:
Dental amalgam is an alloy made by combining elemental mercury, silver, tin, copper and other metallic elements.  Amalgam has several disadvantages to tooth colored fillings.  Silver fillings do not bond to tooth surface therefore more tooth structure is usually removed to keep a silver filling in place.  They can leak and cause a new cavity underneath the filling.  These fillings last about 7 years and should be checked during your hygiene visits.  Besides these reasons, they are dark and noticeable unattractive . We don't do these anymore because there are better options!

Tooth colored fillings (composites):
Now you have a better option to restore your tooth back to health! Tooth colored fillings or composites. These fillings are great! They physically and chemically bond to the tooth. What this means for you is that these fillings can reinforce the tooth. They bond weakened parts of the tooth back together so that more of your tooth can be saved. When done properly they don't leak like the silver fillings so you get less new decay underneath. Also due to this bonding, composites seal into the pores of your tooth so there is virtually no sensitivity to cold or hot afterwards. They also look terrific! You won't even be able to tell where they are when Dr. Burba is done. 

Thanks to the advances in modern dentistry, you never have to settle for a silver filling again.

Two Visit Fillings:
There are also fillings that are made outside your mouth and then cemented into your tooth. These are called inlays. They can also be made of several types of materials, and can be gold or tooth colored. This type of filling takes two visits to finish. At the first visit, Dr. Burba prepares the tooth and a mold or impression of your tooth is made. A temporary filling is then placed to hold the space and protect your tooth. At the second visit, the permanent filling is bonded in. These inlays are extremely strong and durable, which means that they can truly last you for a lifetime. Because they are tooth colored, they blend in so well that you can't see them at all.

  Before. Old, worn out silver fillings.

 
   After! The new inlays bonded to the teeth.