Metal-Free Restorations Naperville

It used to be that when you had a tooth repaired, it was hard to hide it. That’s because old-fashioned amalgam metal restorations like fillings and crowns create dark, noticeable spots in your smile, making it obvious that your tooth has had some work done. The great news is that with today’s metal free restorations, your dentist can match your dental work to the color of your natural teeth, offering safe, discreet repairs that last for years!

What Are Metal-Free Restorations?

For over a century, dentists relied on amalgam metal restorations to help repair decayed and damaged teeth and prevent the spread of further infection. Unfortunately, however, while strong and durable, they left a lot to be desired. Namely, they were obvious when patients opened their mouths to eat, speak, smile, or even sneeze! Thankfully, a better option was introduced in the 1960s, when beautiful, lifelike tooth-colored composite resin restorations debuted in dental clinics around the world. Today, composite resin is the most used material for children’s dental fillings, trusted for decades for its strength as well as its ability to blend discreetly into your child’s smile so nobody will ever need to know they’ve had a filling in the first place!

Why Choose Metal-Free Restorations Instead of Metal Amalgam?

Although metal fillings certainly help to protect the teeth from further damage, they can be very obvious in your child’s smile. Worse yet, because they’re metal, they can expand and contract with heat, leaving your child’s tooth vulnerable to further damage. They also require more of the natural tooth structure to be removed, and they’re not recommended for children with metal allergies or sensitivities.

Conversely, metal-free restorations blend in seamlessly with your child’s smile, so nobody will ever know they’ve had damage in the first place. They require less tooth structure to be removed, which means less time drilling for those little ones who get nervous or have trouble sitting still. Best of all, because they don’t require as much tooth to be removed, they are better for the tooth overall, allowing it to remain healthy and strong whether it’s a primary or permanent tooth.

The Process of Getting a Metal-Free Restoration

Whether your child needs a metal-free children’s dental crown or a dental filling, the beginning step is always the same. First, their dentist will numb the tooth and surrounding area, so the patient remains comfortable throughout the entire process. For crowns, once they are ready, we will take impressions of the damaged tooth, carefully remove any damaged areas, and then fit your child with a temporary crown to wear until their permanent one is delivered to us from the dental lab. Usually, this takes about two weeks.

Once the restoration has arrived, we will have your child return to the office to have the temporary crown removed and the permanent crown secured in place. Your child will be able to immediately return to normal activities and use the tooth to enjoy a full diet with no downtime or recovery.

If they need a simple filling, once their mouth is numb, your child’s dentist will gently remove the damaged portion and then sanitize the tooth. Then, they will begin rebuilding it layer by layer with composite resin. Once the enamel has been restored, the tooth will be hardened with a painless curing light. This should only take a few seconds. Once complete, their dentist will reshape and polish the tooth so it looks and feels great, and your child will be free to return to their regular routine.