16
Aug
5 Things You Should Know About Composite Dental Fillings
Cavities or cracks can happen to anyone, and composite fillings in Milford, Massachusetts, offer an easy solution. David A. Goodman, DMD Alan C. Ko, DMD, practices body-safe dentistry, so any fillings we put in your mouth must be safe and toxic-free. Drs. Alan Ko, Brittany Bressler, and Saeed Kashefi prioritize your safety in everything they do. That’s why we offer biocompatible composite dental fillings. If you need to restore your tooth with a composite filling, schedule an appointment with our office today.
What should I know about composite fillings?
Until recently, amalgam fillings were the standard treatment for tooth decay. These fillings are made from zinc, copper, silver, tin, and 50% mercury. Silver-colored fillings are long-lasting but contain toxic substances harmful to your body. Furthermore, metal fillings don’t look beautiful in your mouth.
Dentistry has evolved, and now you can repair cavities without metal. Our office uses composite fillings to restore your smile. Here’s what you need to know about composite fillings before getting your cavity filled.
- Composites are non-toxic: Composite fillings are created from acrylic plastic and finely grounded glass. Unlike metal fillings that contain harmful mercury, composites don’t have any toxic substances, including BPA, found in some plastics. Additionally, white fillings are biocompatible with your body. When used to repair your tooth, they won’t react adversely with your body.
- The procedure is minimally invasive: For amalgam fillings to have a solid structural bond, the doctor reshapes your tooth by making several “undercuts” to secure the material. This step removes a significant portion of the tooth, making the tooth prone to cracks and fractures. Placing composite fillings is a painless and conservative procedure. The dentist removes a small portion of your tooth, leaving the natural structure intact. The method is also painless. We’ll numb your mouth with local anesthetics to ensure you don’t feel any pain.
- They are long-lasting: While composite resin is easily moldable in its raw form, it gains remarkable durability once bonded to your tooth. Composite fillings are resilient enough to withstand everyday tooth use. With proper care, white fillings can last ten years or more.
- They can be used to improve aesthetics: Composites are common in treating decay and damage, but they can also enhance the aesthetics of your smile. The dentist can use composite bonding to disguise stains and chips that detract from your smile. Additionally, white fillings can cover exposed tooth roots when your gums recede.
- They can repair teeth anywhere in the mouth: We can use composites to restore teeth in the front teeth where aesthetics matter. The dentist will color-match your filling with the nearby teeth to create a seamless appearance. Similarly, white fillings are resilient enough to restore posterior teeth heavily involved in chewing and grinding.
Call Our Office for More Information
New Patients: (508) 850-0686 | Existing Patients: (508) 478-3800
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Composite fillings near me
If you want to repair your cavity or tooth damage without metal, composite fillings in Milford, MA, are the perfect choice. Dial (508) 850-0686 to schedule an appointment with David A. Goodman, DMD Alan C. Ko, DMD for tooth-colored fillings.
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Alan Ko, DMD
Alan Ko, DMD, studied Biology at Washington University in St. Louis (BA Magna Cum Laude), Dentistry at the University of Pennsylvania (DMD Magna Cum Laude, Dean’s Scholarship recipient, Louis I. Grossman Award in Endodontics, and Academy of General Dentistry Award Recipient), did his residency at Brigham and Women’s Hospital (BWH)/Harvard Medical School (General Practice Residency and Clinical Instructor Massachusetts General Hospital), was a guest lecturer at Harvard School of Dental Medicine, and Massachusetts General Hospital (General Practice Residency). Dr. Ko’s clinical focuses are craniofacial development in children, sleep/airway dentistry, TMD and occlusion, regenerative oral surgery, and reconstructive restorative/prosthetic dentistry, including Invisalign and dental implants. He is a member of the American Dental Association and Massachusetts Dental Society and has been named as Boston’s Top Dentists since 2012.
Brittany Bressler, DMD
Brittany Bressler, DMD, attended the University of New Hampshire-Durham (magna cum laude, studying psychology and pre-dental studies). Then, she attended Tufts University School of Dental Medicine in Boston, MA (Doctorate in Dental Medicine). At Tufts, she was the Vice President of the local chapter of the American Association of Women Dentists. Dr. Bressler has been named one of Boston Magazine’s Top Dentists for the last four years.
Saeed Kashefi, DMD, FAGD
Saeed Kashefi, DMD, FAGD, attended Harvard University (Bachelor of Liberal Arts in Literature and Creative Writing, cum laude), the Southern Illinois University School of Dental Medicine (doctorate, cum laude: He also won the JR Schmidt Fixed Prosthodontics Award), and the BWH/ Harvard-Wide General Practice Residency Program in Hospital Dentistry (residency and fellowship). He stayed on the BWH staff before taking over as clinician attending at the Massachusetts General Hospital, where he served for 16 years. Dr. Kashefi was also the Clinical Instructor at Harvard Medical School and Harvard School of Dental Medicine during this time. He is a Fellow of the American Association of Hospital Dentists and Academy of General Dentistry.
Cristina Hantavis MS, CCC-SLP
Cristina Hantavis MS, CCC-SLP, is a licensed and certified Speech and Language Pathologist with extensive training in orofacial myology. She believes that oral health is deeply connected to our general health and takes a holistic approach that targets the whole body by working with the muscles of the face and mouth. Cristina previously worked in private and elementary school settings with children experiencing moderate to severe cognitive, linguistic, and behavioral challenges. She uses this experience to help children facing such issues in her current role.
David Goodman, DMD (retired)
David Goodman, DMD (retired), joined our practice in 1984. Our office was founded in 1975 by Dr. Carl DiGregorio, and since partnering with him, Dr. Goodman has been devoted to delivering exceptional dental care to Milford families. Although he retired in 2021, our practice still carries his philosophy of treating patients as whole people beyond just their teeth.