WHITE FILLINGS LAKE FOREST, FOOTHILL RANCH - WHITE FILLINGS MISSION VIEJO - WHITE FILLINGS RANCHO SANTA MARGARITA - WHITE FILLINGS IRVINE - (949) 583-1500 - DR. PARISA ZARBAFAIN, 92610, El Toro, Saddleback, Coto De Caza, Dove Canyon, Portola Hills, Trabuco Canyon

WHITE FILLINGS - COSMETIC DENTISTRY

WHITE
FILLINGS
Improving Your Smile

White Composite Fillings Compared with Amalgam Fillings

This page provides information about the pros and cons of white composite fillings versus silver amalgam fillings. There are several important differences between the two types, it's not just a matter of appearance.

As a patient, your dentist should inform you of the availability of the white composite fillings. If you have had amalgam fillings placed in your mouth without being offered the option of having white fillings instead, the dentist has not performed his or her legal duty.

Given the opportunity to make a fully informed choice, my experience is that the vast majority of today's dental patients will choose the white fillings. There are several reasons for this: In the view of many, the mercury in amalgam is viewed as potentially toxic. (Traditional dentists like to use the term "silver fillings," but they have more mercury in them than silver.) Also, the feeling is that the white composite represents a more advanced technology. Additionally, composite is more esthetic. For all these reasons, the public is demanding white. And, with today's technology, composite fillings can easily withstand the stress required to serve in a back tooth.

See how beautiful these teeth look after removing the old fillings and replacing them with bonded white fillings. Besides looking better, these teeth are now more resistant to fracture.

ADVANTAGES OF WHITE FILLINGS:

1) Since they bond to the tooth, composite fillings restore most of the original strength of the tooth. Silver weakens the teeth, making them more susceptible to breaking. Since broken teeth are very expensive to restore, composites can save a lot of expense over the long run.

2) Composite fillings restore the natural appearance of the tooth.

3) Teeth restored with white fillings are less sensitive to hot and cold than teeth restored with amalgam, if correct techniques are used.

4) Composites are mercury-free. Mercury in the fillings is viewed by some as being toxic.

5) Composites require less removal of tooth structure. Especially with new cavities, the size of the hole made for the filling can be dramatically smaller with composites.

ADVANTAGES OF SILVER AMALGAM FILLINGS:

1) They are generally less expensive. Composite fillings, if they are done correctly, take about 60% longer, require special expertise and expensive materials, and are more difficult to place, and so they cost considerably more than silver. Dental insurance companies will generally not pick up this extra cost. Click here for extra information about the costs of white fillings.

2) General dentists can place amalgam without extra training. Composite requires the use of special bonding technology that many dentists are uncomfortable with.

3) The proper placement of a white filling requires that the site for the filling be kept totally isolated from saliva while it is being placed. In the very back of the mouth, on some patients, it is difficult to keep the tooth isolated for the duration of the procedure. This can also be uncomfortable for some patients. A silver amalgam filling does not require this strict isolation of the tooth.

4) The filling by itself is a stronger material, although it weakens the tooth.

5) Silver fillings have a longer history of use than mercury-free fillings, thus some feel that they are more tried and tested.

6) One caution�the composite fillings can be seriously weakened by excessive alcohol consumption. If you have a habit of drinking beverages with high alcohol content (whiskey, etc.) on a daily basis, you may find the composite fillings deteriorating prematurely.

OTHER Cosmetic Dental Procedures

Problem: Stained, discolored, or dull-looking teeth

Treatment Options: If you have stained or discolored teeth, but otherwise like your smile the way it is, all you may need are whitening procedures to give you the smile you've always wanted.
People with stained or dull teeth will benefit from whitening - a safe, effective means to whiten stained, discolored or dull teeth (or even a single tooth). In-office and supervised at-home whitening systems are available. At-home systems should be individually fitted and monitored by your cosmetic dentist.

Example

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Problem: Chipped, cracked, or worn teeth

Treatment Options

Teeth that are chipped, cracked, or worn can be perfectly restored with ultra-thin, specially made laminates or veneers. Either option can close gaps or disguise discolored teeth that do not respond well to whitening procedures.

Long-lasting porcelain or composite veneers are ultra-thin, specially made laminates that are bonded to the teeth. Veneers are stronger and have a longer life than bonding, but the process requires more time.

Bonding is a process in which an enamel-like material is applied to a tooth's surface, sculpted to an ideal shape, hardened, and then polished for an ideal smile. This procedure usually can be accomplished in a single visit.

Example

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Problem: Missing teeth or general bite dysfunction

Treatment Options

Missing teeth can be replaced with predictable results using fixed bridges or dental implants. Crown or bridge work is best for correcting major functional or structural problems with individual teeth, missing teeth, or general bite dysfunction.

New porcelain and ceramic technology is available to replace missing and/or severely broken teeth so that no one can tell that the replacements are not real.

Implants are being used to successfully replace teeth for people in all age groups-with esthetic and predictable results.

Example

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Problem: Excessive or uneven gums

Treatment Options: Excessive or uneven gums can be corrected with cosmetic surgery, a gum lift, resulting in a more even, pleasing smile.

Example

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Problem: Old and unsightly fillings

Treatment Options: Old, unsightly fillings can now be replaced with esthetic filling materials such as resins and porcelain fillings or crowns.

Example

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We help with Cosmetic Dentistry, Othodontics, Crowns,
Vaneers, Lumaneers, Invisalign and Whitening (Zoom)

Foothill Ranch Office
(Serving Mission Viejo, Lake Forest, Rancho Santa Margarita, Irvine, Coto De Caza, Dove Canyon, Portola Hills, Saddleback, El Toro, Tustin, San Juan Capistrano, and beyond)
(949) 583-1500

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Our Dental Services Include: Cosmetic Dentistry, Lava, Crowns, Bridges, Lumaneers, Porcelain Veneers, Inlays, Onlays, Zoom, Orthodontic, Ortho, Othrodontics, Braces Invisalign, Dental Implants, Periodontist, Cleanings, Bonding, White Fillings, Partial Dentures, Complete Dentures, Oral Surgery, Bleaching, Whitening, Restorative Dentistry, Gum Treatment, Extractions.

ProSmile Dentistry Serves the Southern Orange County and Southern California
Dentistfoothillranch.com recieves many customers from the following cities and zipcodes:

Lake Forest 92609, 92630, Foothill Ranch 92610, Mission Viejo 92675, 92690, 92691, 92692, 92694, El Toro 92609, 92610, 92630, Irvine 92602, 92603, 92604, 92606, 92612, 92614, 92616, 92618, 92619, 92620, 92623, 92650, 92697, 92709, 92710, Laguna Hills 92637, 92653, 92654, 92656, Laguna Niguel 92607, 92677, Rancho Santa Margarita 92688, San Juan Capistrano 92675, 92690, 92691, 92692, 92693, 92694 Coto De Caza 92679, Dove Canyon 92679, Cowan Heights 92705, Silverado 92676, Trabuco Canyon 92678, 92679, 92688, Modjeska 92676, Robinson Ranch 92679, Ladera Ranch 92694, Tustin 92780, 92781, 92782, San Juan Capistrano 92675, 92690, 92691, 92692, 92693, 92694, Ladera Ranch 92694, California

ProSmile Dentistry - My Friendly Dentist in Foothill Ranch
26720 Towne Centre Dr., Suite A, Foothill Ranch, CA 92610
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INFORMATION ABOUT THE CITIES PROSMILE DENTISTRY SERVES:

About Foothill Ranch: Foothill Ranch was a census-designated place in Orange County, California, United States. The population was 10,899 at the 2000 census. Foothill Ranch was annexed into Lake Forest, California in 2000. Foothill Ranch is notable for such company headquarters as Oakley, Inc., Wet Seal, Kaiser Aluminum, Risa Technologies and Saddleback Church. Foothill Ranch includes the zipcode: 92610

About Lake Forest: Lake Forest incorporated as a new city on December 20, 1991. Residents voted to name the city Lake Forest, after two expensive master planned residential communities, denying the longer claim to the territory by the community of El Toro. Since being founded, it has expanded its limits to include the newer communities of Foothill Ranch and Portola Hills. The multiplicity of names often creates confusion: some people in the Portola Hills neighborhood, for example, can receive mail addressed to them at Portola Hills, Lake Forest, or Trabuco Canyon. The zip code 92679 is a Trabuco Canyon zip code even though not a single area in the zip code is Trabuco Canyon. This might be because since 92679 is assigned to the northeastern area of Rancho Santa Margarita and the southern area of Lake Forest it would be too confusing for the postal services because 2 cities are both served by that zip code. Lake Forest (along with its neighboring cities Mission Viejo and Irvine) is ranked as one of the safest cities in the country. The private research firm Morgan Quitno ranked Lake Forest as the 15th safest city and another firm later ranked Lake Forest 10th in 2007 in the United States. Lake Forest includes the following zipcodes: 92609, 92630.

About Lake Mission Viejo: Located in South Orange County, Mission Viejo is a planned community that once had cattle grazing on its hillsides. The land was purchased from the O�Neill family nearly half a century ago, and the first homes were built in 1966. By the late 80�s, Mission Viejo became a city, and now houses almost 100,000 residents. Locals enjoy activities at the Mission Viejo Lake, shopping at The Shops at Mission Viejo and the Kaleidoscope Courtyard, and their biggest celebration of the year at the July 4th Street Fair. The community is also proud of their world renowned Nadadores swim team and Saddleback Community College, which offers some of the best golf courses in the county. Mission Viejo includes the following Zipcodes: 92675, 92690, 92691, 92692, 92694.

About Dove Canyon: Dove Canyon is a gated community in Rancho Santa Margarita. Dove Canyon boarders the Cleveland National Forest and is best known for its choice golf courses. Residents enjoy the outdoors at the Thomas F. Riley Wilderness Park and the Wagon Wheel Park Bike Trails, as well as a variety of community and family events such as the Boo Bash and Holiday in the Park Dove Canyon includes the zipcode: 92610

About Irvine: Irvine was originally a home to livestock and later crops of barley, lima beans, asparagus, avocado, oranges, and strawberries. The huge planned community that remains today was originally from James Irvine�s plot of land in the mid 1800�s: the Irvine Ranch. After The University of California Irvine (UCI) was established in the 1960�s, the development of Irvine�s characteristic housing plots was underway. Today, nearly 200,000 people call Irvine home, making it the largest planned community in the nation. Irvine is known for its clean and regulated suburban neighborhoods, as well as the Irvine Spectrum shopping and entertainment center, Wild Rivers Water Park, and the outdoor concert arena � the Verizon Amphitheater. Irvine includes the following zipcodes: 92602, 92603, 92604, 92606, 92612, 92614, 92616, 92618, 92619, 92620, 92623, 92650, 92697, 92709, 92710

About Rancho Santa Margarita: Before it was owned by the O�Neill family, Rancho Santa Margarita was home to Shoshonean Native Americans. RSM is one of the many planned communities in Orange County and is also one of the newest, having become a city in 2000. The community known as �A Small City with the Soul of a Small Village� is the perfect place for families and today nearly 50,000 people call it home. Community activities such as the Fourth of July Celebration and the Summer Concert Series are favorites among residents. Rancho Santa Margarita includes the following zipcode: 92688

About Portola Hills: Portola Hills is a small community located just north of Rancho Santa Margarita. Portola Hills offers fantastic mountain views and quiet living for singles, couples and families in Orange County. Residents enjoy swimming, tennis, basketball, and volleyball at the brand new Concourse Park. The community is just minutes from various shopping centers and marketplaces. Portola Hills includes the following zipcode: 92679

About Coto De Caza: Coto De Caza is one of the oldest planned communities in Orange County and is located in Rancho Santa Margarita. Coto De Caza offers a beautiful landscape of Oak trees, hills, trails and parks such as the Thomas F. Riley Wilderness Park and the Wagon Wheel Park Bike Trails. The Coto De Caza Sports and Recreation Park serves as a community center for various events, concerts and activities. Portola Hills includes the following zipcode: 92679

MY FRIENDLY FOOTHILL RANCH DENTIST