What are Metal-Free Dental Restorations?
Metal-free dental restorations may refer to a number of different dentistry treatments including:
- Composite resin tooth-colored fillings
- Tooth-colored dental crowns
- Natural-looking fixed bridges
- Flawless inlays and onlays
Materials used for metal-free restorations include ceramic, zirconia, and composite resin, which is a combination of glass and plastics. Each of these metal-free material options seamlessly recreates the natural appearance of teeth while restoring your smile’s function after dental damage or tooth decay.
What are the Benefits of Metal-Free Dental Restoration?
Many of our patients think that metal restorations are more durable. While the materials themselves may be a little stronger, they can actually lead to additional dental damage in many cases. Plus, metal restorations noticeably mar the smile. For these and many other reasons, we often recommend metal-free dental restoration materials. A few of the many benefits of restorative dentistry using metal-free materials include:
- Improved confidence – your smile will look 100% natural, so you can speak and smile with total confidence in any situation.
- Hypoallergenic – patients who have allergies or sensitivities to metal have no worries with metal-free restoration materials.
- Long-lasting – metal-free restorations will last a decade or longer with proper care. They are also stain-resistant, so you don’t have to worry about discoloration throughout the life your restoration.
What is the Metal-Free Dental Restoration Process?
Metal-free, tooth-colored fillings are placed in just one appointment. We remove any damaged structure and apply the composite resin directly to your tooth, replacing lost structure and leaving you with a flawless smile.
In order to repair your smile with a metal-free dental crown, bridge, or other restoration, we’ll need to schedule at least two visits. During your first appointment, we’ll prepare your smile by removing any damaged structure. Then, a small amount of tooth enamel will likely need to be removed to accommodate the extra structure of the dental restoration. Once the tooth or teeth are prepared, we capture impressions that will be used by our lab to create your custom crown, bridge, or other dental restoration. To protect your prepared smile in the meantime, we will create and place a temporary restoration. When we receive the final restoration from our lab, you’ll return to our office to exchange your temporary for a flawless, custom crown or bridge.
