Reasons Kirkland, WA area patients are choosing tooth-colored fillings

You’ve scheduled a routine cleaning at the dentist and then you receive the dreaded news – you’ve got a cavity! You immediately dread scheduling the follow-up appointment to get that filling. There really is no need to worry when you visit Kingsgate Dental. Dr. Ann Kelley and her team in Kirkland, WA use tooth-colored fillings that are a quick and painless procedure. This service offers several benefits to the patient, providing a near stress-free experience.

Quick treatment

The procedure of receiving a tooth-colored filling is typically quick and painless. If you are looking at one or two fillings, the procedure should take less than an hour with minimal downtime. You should be able to walk out after the appointment and resume normal daily activity. A local anesthetic is applied to the gums to numb the treatment area and then the damaged tooth material is removed. Once the affected material is removed, the tooth is cleaned and then a tooth-colored resin is applied directly into the cavity. The shade of the resin is tinted to match the shade of your natural teeth, shaped so that you can maintain your natural bite and hardened with a curing light.

Great looking and long lasting

In the past, silver and gold were used for fillings which, to some patients, is unsightly or ugly. With tooth-colored fillings, regardless if you are laughing, simply speaking or yawning, nobody will be able to see that you have a filling. They are long lasting also. With proper care (brushing, flossing and rinsing) your filling can last 10 years or more. It’s important to avoid some bad habits such as chewing on objects such as pen caps or your fingernails, ice or hard candies, anything hard that could dislodge your fillings. If you follow these tips, you should have your natural looking fillings for years to come.

Mercury free

Anybody who has received silver amalgam fillings have trace amounts of mercury in their mouth, which is a toxic material. Although the amount of mercury in a silver filling is very low, some patients prefer a mercury-free alternative, which is exactly what tooth-colored resin fillings offer.

To schedule a dental exam and cleaning, please give Dr. Ann Kelley a call today at (425) 385-0080.

Ann Kelley, DDS

Dr. Ann Kelley, DDS, brings 20 years of dedicated dental practice to the Bellevue/Redmond area. A graduate of Creighton University School of Dentistry, she is a member of the American Dental Association (ADA). Dr. Kelley is known for her commitment to patient comfort and trust, ensuring each visit is met with personalized care. Her commitment is evident as she skillfully alleviates patient anxiety, creating a relaxed environment for optimal treatment. Dr. Kelley’s extensive experience and patient-centered approach make her a trusted choice for high-quality dental care.