Dental Associates offers complete family dentistry plus specialty services like orthodontics, oral surgery, and dental implants. Click to learn more. We have over a dozen convenient locations in Wisconsin. Types of Dental Fillings There are two main types of dental fillings: amalgam and composite. Common Dental Filling Materials Amalgam Dental Fillings These are silver-colored and have been one of the most common filling materials.
Composite Resin Dental Fillings These are tooth-colored and match your teeth. A filling is also used to repair broken or cracked tooth and the teeth which wear off due to dental habits like teeth grinding, nail biting etc. There are various signs and symptoms where fillings can be required. The symptoms could be as below:. If you come across any of the symptoms as mentioned above, then there is a chance that you need a filling. The final decision will be of your dentist after a thorough oral examination.
Dental Filling is normally required if your tooth is decayed. It can prevent further damage and can protect your tooth. If you have decay, then it is extremely important to get Fillings done because if the treatment is not done on time then slowly the enamel outer part of teeth start decaying exposing the dentin the hard part below the enamel. The bacteria in your mouth will come in contact with dentin, causing infection. Once the infection starts, you will feel sensitivity and will then want to get Fillings done.
But if you skip this part and do not get the treatment done on time, then the infection will reach to the nerve which will eventually damage the tooth and then one needs to undergo a Root Canal Treatment. You are also at risk of the infection traveling to the adjacent tooth making it prone to decay. Fillings are a very affordable and efficient restoration method, but the cost varies greatly in different situations and for different patients.
The cost of treatment is determined by the size of the filling, the number of fillings necessary, and the material you choose.
Investing in a filling to restore your teeth today might reduce your chances of needing more expensive procedures later. For example, if a cavity is left untreated, it can lead to loss of tooth and replacing a missing tooth is significantly costlier than a dental filling. Dental Fillings are of various types. In addition, many individuals worry about the long-term safety of silver amalgam fillings since they contain Mercury: a known neurotoxin.
Composite fillings are an attractive option because they can be closely matched to the color of your teeth. However, composite fillings are more expensive than silver amalgam fillings and are not as durable. Ceramic fillings are made of porcelain and are a very aesthetically pleasing option that is also very durable. However, ceramic fillings cost more than silver amalgam fillings and can wear the opposing teeth if the porcelain becomes rough.
Glass ionomers acrylic fillings often last for less than five years but are a good choice for children if their teeth are changing. They can also release Fluoride and this helps to prevent tooth decay.
Again, your dentist is the best person to help you decide which type of material to use for your dental fillings. If you have additional questions about any of these types of fillings, talk to your dentist today.
Posted on behalf of Dr. Hye Park, Green Dental of Alexandria. I just had my first appointment at Green Dental and I couldn't be happier with their service. I tend to be nervous when going to the dentist, but all of the staff were very welcoming and nice.
The exam chair massages your back as you're getting your cleaning and there's a television on the ceiling to distract you from dental work. The cleaning and evaluation was very gentle. Thanks, Green Dental!
Top shelf dental care. Hye Park is very smooth. List of Partners vendors. Treating a cavity, an area of decay in a tooth, is a routine part of dental care. First, a dentist cleans out the part of the tooth that's affected , leaving a hole or empty space. Then he'll fill that space to even out the surface of the tooth so that it "feels" right in the mouth and is protected from further decay. There are five types of materials commonly used to fill in space where a cavity has been removed.
You may not always have a choice in the type of filling you need, but if you do, it's helpful to know the pros and cons of each. This is the most widely known type of filling.
Silver amalgam isn't just silver—it's a mixture of minerals that's 50 percent silver, tin, zinc, and copper, and 50 percent mercury. The typical silver amalgam filling can last 12 years or more. Silver amalgam has disadvantages though. It's not aesthetically pleasing, so it isn't a good choice for a highly visible tooth.
The material also can expand and contract over time, causing a tooth to crack. These fluctuations also can create spaces between the filling and the tooth that food and bacteria can become trapped in, allowing new cavities to form. On September 24, , the Food and Drug Administration released a recommendation against giving mercury fillings to certain high-risk people whenever possible and appropriate—specifically:.
These people should receive alternatives such as composite resins or glass ionomer cement fillings. Removing existing mercury fillings was not advised, as doing so would increase the risk of exposure to the metal. Composite fillings are made of a resin and plastic material that is placed into the cavity while it's soft, then hardened with bright blue "curing" light.
It's a popular choice because it can be matched in color to the shade of a person's existing teeth, so it's not as obvious as a silver amalgam filling. At the same time, though, composite fillings don't last as long as some other types.
They typically need to be replaced every five to 10 years.
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