Composite Fillings and Bonding in Harrisonburg

Taking care of cavities promptly is essential to prevent decay from spreading and to maintain a healthy smile. At Rocktown Family Dental Care, we use tooth-colored composite fillings that protect the tooth from further damage and create a discreet, invisible repair.

Benefits of Composite Tooth Fillings

A filling is just a filling, right? Yes and no. Our Harrisonburg, VA, dentist, Dr. Joan Anderson, recommends composite fillings because they offer numerous benefits, especially compared to amalgam.

Create Seamless Tooth Repairs

Composite fillings consist of glass, quartz, or ceramic fillers in a resin base. The combination of resin and filler creates a material that mimics the translucency of tooth enamel. When we shade it to match your natural tooth color, the result is a virtually invisible tooth repair that even you won’t detect.

Preserve Tooth Structure

A Harrisonburg dentist generally needs to remove less tooth structure to prepare for a composite filling than amalgam. Amalgam fillings require extensive tooth preparation, while composite fillings bond directly to the tooth structure. This is a more conservative approach, meaning we can preserve more of the natural tooth.

Minimize Risk of Secondary Decay

We bond composite fillings directly to the tooth structure, sealing the margins to minimize the risk of developing a second cavity. Amalgam fillings sit in the prepared space, expanding and contracting with temperature changes in the mouth. This can create space around the margins where bacteria can enter and cause another cavity.

Reinforce Tooth Structure

Composite fillings help evenly distribute biting and chewing forces to support the remaining tooth structure. Amalgam fillings don’t bond to the tooth and can create a wedge effect, causing the tooth to crack or fracture over time.

You Have a Choice!

While we commonly recommend composite fillings because they are less invasive and more aesthetic, you always have a choice. If you prefer a silver amalgam filling, please let us know, and Dr. Anderson will be happy to discuss the pros and cons with you.

Composite Dental Bonding

Dental bonding is a popular cosmetic dentistry option where we apply tooth-colored composite resin material to a tooth’s surface to improve its appearance. The procedure is minimally invasive, can be completed in a single visit, and is a cost-effective alternative to veneers or crowns.

Dental bonding can correct a variety of dental problems, including:

• Cracked teeth
• Broken teeth
• Discolored teeth
• Gaps between teeth
• Misshapen teeth

We also use bonding to cover exposed tooth roots due to gum recession, providing protection and reducing sensitivity.

The Process for Dental Bonding

Getting dental bonding at our Harrisonburg, VA, dental office involves the following steps:

• Tooth preparation — The tooth’s surface is lightly roughened then an etching liquid is applied to create a strong bond between the tooth and the bonding material.
• Color matching — You and Dr. Anderson select a shade for the composite resin that closely matches your tooth color to achieve a seamless, realistic-looking result.
• Application of bonding material — The resin material is applied directly to the tooth surface and sculpted in multiple layers to achieve the proper shape, thickness, and contour.
• Curing and hardening — As each layer of material is applied and shaped, it is hardened and bonded to the tooth using a special curing light.
• Finishing and polishing — After the bonding material has hardened, Dr. Anderson trims and shapes the restoration as needed to achieve a natural appearance and ensure a proper bite. The final step is to polish the material to match the sheen of the surrounding teeth.

Because bonding is minimally invasive, Dr. Anderson can often complete the necessary repairs without needing local anesthetic or numbing. With proper care, bonding can last 5–7 years before you need to replace it.

Do You Have a Cavity and Need a Tooth Filling?

The key to maintaining a healthy smile is to address tooth decay as soon as possible before it can cause long-term damage to your smile. If you think you need a tooth filling or are interested in dental bonding, please call our Harrisonburg, VA, dental office to schedule an appointment.