Choose a Dentist Who Offers Dental Fillings

Cavity Fillings – What to Expect, Types & Potential

What is a Dental Fillings? Teeth can be filled with gold; porcelain; silver amalgam (which consists of mercury mixed with silver, tin, zinc, and copper); or tooth-colored, plastic, and materials called composite resin dental fillings.

When built-up plaque and tartar begin to erode your tooth enamel, the tooth itself begins to decay. This decay must be removed or all of the teeth will die and fall out. Removing the decayed area may leave a hole in part of your tooth which needs to be covered with a dental filling. Dentists now have several dental filling materials available to preserve your tooth and restore your smile.

To treat a cavity your dentist will remove the decayed portion of the tooth and then “fill” the area on the tooth where the decayed material once lived. Dental Fillings are also used to repair cracked or broken teeth and teeth that have been worn down from misuse (such as from nail-biting or tooth grinding).

Different Types of Dental Fillings

Choose a family dentist or general dentist who offers fillings that can be made from amalgam, gold, composite resin, or porcelain. Your dentist can help you decide which filling is best for you based on cost, along with your dental and lifestyle needs. Amalgam is the traditional silver material used for dental fillings.

It is made of a mixture of materials including mercury, tin, copper, and silver. Although highly durable and cheaper than other filling materials, amalgam has led to some health concerns because of the materials used. It also does not look natural in your mouth. Some dental patients like the look of gold dental fillings because they feel it adds a touch of style to their mouth. Although they are highly durable, gold dental fillings are also extremely expensive.

Composite fillings are made of a mixture of plastic resin and finely ground glass-like or quartz particles. These can be combined to form more natural tooth-colored fillings. Composite dental fillings are durable, but not as durable as amalgam, and are best used for small- to mid-size fillings.

Although less drilling is required because of the natural appearance, getting the coloring to match closely to your natural teeth may take a bit more time than placing amalgam dental fillings in your mouth. Patients who consume drinks with high alcohol content daily are not good candidates for composite fillings because their structural integrity might become severely weakened.

Porcelain or ceramic fillings are also natural in color, but more resistant to staining than composite resin. They are chemically bonded to your tooth and have proven to be extremely durable.

Dental-Consultants.Com is your go-to source for dental information and dental education. If you are interested in learning more about fillings, use our dental profiles to help find a family dentist or general dentist who can help because Dental-Consultants.Com is “where patients and dentists meet.”