Ask Dr. Jelinek
What’s the Difference Between Filling and Bonding
Hi, folks! Dr. Jelinek here again.
then fill the space with bonding, as if they were priming the tooth like a painter would prime their wall. The filling, which is now colored white, then fills the space, and a specialty light hardens it to secure the bonding.
Questions are common in dentistry, and there are a lot of misconceptions about oral health and proper hygiene routines. People wonder how often they should floss (every day) or want to know what kind of toothbrush is best for them (soft bristles and electric). I hear a litany of questions every day.
Today, I wanted to offer an explanation to one of the most common questions I hear: “What’s the difference between bonding and filling?”
Generally speaking, these are interchangeable terms. Each serves the purpose of filling a gap that’s typically left by decay, but bonding has made this process much better. In the “olden days” of dentistry, a dentist would drill out the cavity, carve out some of the healthy tooth, and then it would be replaced with a silver-colored filling. The fillings were this color because they were comprised of mercury. That’s likely why you associate cavity fillings with these silver spots that can be seen on people’s teeth. We don’t do that anymore. Today, bonding allows us to preserve the integrity of a tooth’s structure while removing a cavity and filling the gap it leaves behind. When a patient needs to have a cavity filled, the dentist still removes the cavity, but they are able to leave behind most of the healthy tooth. They
The addition of bonding and the upgrades to fillings have made this process much simpler, effective, and user-friendly. Gray-colored fillings are a thing of the past, and the healthy structure of the tooth remains intact. If you have additional questions about your oral health or bonding and filling, please contact my office today to schedule your next appointment. Please call 703-584-5996. I’m always happy to answer your questions at your next appointment!
Spring Vegetable and Chicken Pasta Bake
Sudoku
INGREDIENTS
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1 cup cooked chicken, diced
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1/2 cup fresh chives, chopped and divided
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1 14-oz can artichokes, drained and quartered
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1 cup fresh asparagus pieces
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1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped and divided
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1/2 cup carrots, grated
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2 tsp minced garlic
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1 1/2 cups uncooked penne pasta
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1/4 tsp salt
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1 3/4 cups chicken broth
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1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese, divided
DIRECTIONS
1. Preheat oven to 425 F and grease an 8-inch square baking dish with cooking spray. 2. In the prepared dish, stir together cooked chicken, artichokes, asparagus, carrots, uncooked pasta, chicken broth, half the chives, half the parsley, garlic, salt, and 2 tbsp Parmesan. 3. Cover the dish tightly with foil and bake for 35 minutes. 4. Uncover and stir. At this point, check the pasta to make sure it is al dente. If it’s undercooked, cover the dish and return to the oven until pasta is tender. 5. Remove from oven and garnish with remaining Parmesan, chives, and parsley.
Solution on Pg. 4
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