A Local Dentist Talks About an Amazing New Filling Material

Did you know that researchers have found Neolithic remains from 6,500 years ago that include a tooth filled with beeswax? Clearly, dental materials have evolved a lot since then! And while dental work has been further improved over the last 100 years or so, there are new advances all the time that mean an even better dental experience for patients. One example of this is a new filling material that researchers from the University of Pennsylvania have been studying that has huge implications for both dentists and patients. If you’d like to know more, a local dentist discusses how it might change the field of dentistry.

How Can You Benefit?

Have you had the experience of going to your dentist for a checkup and dental exam, only to discover that the fillings you had done a few years back need to be replaced? This can be really frustrating, as dental work is a significant investment of time and money and is preferably done on a minimal basis.

Unfortunately, even when a filling or crown is high-quality, your restored tooth is still susceptible to getting another cavity (recurrent decay) down the road. The main culprit behind this problem is the bacteria that live in the mouth.

This new dental material is so innovative because it contains an anti-bacterial agent that kills these bacteria – without harming the tissues in the mouth. By killing the bacteria, it reduces the chances that another cavity will form, resulting in dental work that lasts longer.

Why Does the Type of Material Used in Fillings Matter?

In recent history, amalgam (silver-colored) fillings were the material of choice for a long time, and then composite (white-colored) fillings offered new advantages and became the preferred material.

While there are many considerations involved, the primary requirement of any good dental material is that it’s able to withstand a lot of chewing force on a daily basis. While current materials certainly meet that criterion, they don’t do anything to prevent cavity-causing bacteria from causing further decay.

In some ways, you can think about your dental work like a set of car tires: It has a particular life to it, but after a certain amount of wear-and-tear, things need to be replaced. Anyone would gladly buy tires that were made with a material that lasted longer and didn’t require expensive replacement as soon. Similarly, with better materials to work with dentists can potentially extend the life of the dental work they do and provide a higher-quality result for their patients.

When new-and-improved dental materials mean that patients can spend less time in the dental chair, it’s easy to see that the field of dentistry has come a long way since fillings made of beeswax!

About the Author

Dr. St. Clair and Dr. Strauss are dedicated to providing the best care possible in general, cosmetic and periodontal dentistry. By pursuing advanced education in the latest dental techniques, taking on leadership roles within their field and volunteering in their community, they are committed to making sure their patients get the best result possible from their dental work. If you have any questions, they can be contacted through their website or at (978) 948-2030.