Dental decay occurs when acids produced by bacteria gradually demineralize and destroy tooth structure.
When a cavity has progressed beyond a stage that can be managed preventively, the diseased tooth structure may need to be removed and restored.
At John E. Sullivan DDS, P.C., we commonly use tooth-colored composite resin for direct dental restorations.
After the area is anesthetized when necessary, decayed or structurally compromised tooth material is carefully removed. The remaining tooth is cleaned and prepared for bonding.
Composite resin is bonded directly to the tooth using adhesive dental materials and then hardened using a curing light.
The restoration is shaped to reproduce natural tooth anatomy and adjusted so that the patient’s bite feels comfortable.
One advantage of adhesive composite dentistry is the ability to restore many teeth while preserving substantial amounts of healthy tooth structure.
Composite restorations can be used for:
Like natural teeth, composite restorations are subject to wear and can eventually chip, stain, or develop recurrent decay around their margins. Regular examinations allow us to monitor the restoration over time.