Routine dental care and biannual dental visits are important parts of preventative dentistry. Preventative dentistry can stop current dental problems from developing further and even prevent dental problems in the first place. These types of treatments fall under general dentistry, a type of dentistry that ensures that patients are in good oral health. Our general dental services at Hope Restorative and Cosmetic Dentistry in Tulsa, OK, maintain patients’ smiles and stop severe dental issues.
General Dentistry Services in Tulsa, OK
Our general dental treatments keep patients healthy and keep problems like tooth wear, tooth damage, and dental infections at bay. These dental services include:
Mercury-Free Fillings
In the 1840s, dentists made a discovery that became the standard in dental care for the last 150 years. They discovered that they could make a paste of silver and mercury to place in the opening of a drilled tooth after the decay was removed. This paste would harden into a filling, securing the tooth for many years. Though called silver fillings, they were actually mostly made of mercury.
In the 1980s, dental care changed again. Two new breakthroughs gave dentists another option for filling cavities in a way that is not only mercury-free but stronger than amalgam fillings. First, a white composite filling material was developed that had enough strength and wear resistance to stand up to even the back teeth. Then advances in bonding technology made it possible to bond the composite fillings directly to the tooth. We prefer the newer technology and are a mercury-free dental practice.
There are many advantages of composite fillings. Mercury-free fillings:
- Require less tooth structure removal.
- Bond directly to the tooth, which helps strengthen it. Amalgam fillings weaken the tooth.
- Do not conduct hot and cold the way the metal in amalgam fillings does; there is much less tooth sensitivity.
- Seal adjacent parts of the tooth, protecting them from decay.
- Offer less post-operative sensitivity.
- Blend with your natural tooth color.
Call Our Dental Office
Do you need to make a dental visit to our office? Schedule a dental appointment with or call Hope Restorative and Cosmetic Dentistry today at 918-347-1114. We are proud to serve patients from Bixby, Tulsa, and the surrounding communities.