Dental Filling Options
Fillings for teeth can be made from a variety of materials, including amalgam, porcelain, gold, and composite resins. In addition to being safe and long-lasting, each of these materials has its own set of advantages and disadvantages.
Composite Fillings
Composite fillings are plastic tooth-coloured fillings that provide a nature look and feel when placed in a patient's mouth.
Composite fillings are colour matched to the surrounding natural teeth, allowing them to blend in seamlessly with the rest of your smile. These materials are also relatively easy to shape and mould onto teeth, and because they bond naturally to teeth, your dentist will not have to remove as much existing enamel during the preparation process.
In order to place this type of filling, your dentist will first remove decay from the tooth and then apply bonding material to the inside of the cavity. Once that step is complete, thin layers of composite resin are poured into the hole. With the help of curing light, each layer hardens to a solid-state. When the final layer of the filling has hardened, your dentist will shape the filling so that it matches the shape of your natural teeth.
Porcelain Fillings
Often called inlays or onlays porcelain fillings are strong, tooth-coloured dental restorations created by combining hard and brittle porcelain with metal. These fillings are often used when there is significant damage to a tooth.
A porcelain filling is created in a dental lab and returned to your dentist, who cements it in place in your mouth. It is typically necessary to schedule at least two dental appointments in order to complete the procedure.
Amalgam Fillings
Silver in colour, amalgam fillings are frequently used to fill teeth located at the back of the mouth. They are a mixture of metals, including mercury, silver, copper, and tin, among others.
While the silver colour may not be appealing to people who prefer a more natural appearance, they are a long-lasting option for molars that are subjected to a great deal of wear and tear.
Gold Fillings
Gold fillings are typically the strongest but also the most expensive option for restoring a damaged tooth. In order to create a cast gold filling, a model of your tooth must be created. A mixture of gold and other metals, such as silver and copper, is used to create these pieces.
Much like porcelain fillings, this type of dental filling is fabricated in a dental lab then sent to your dentist to be placed. As a result, gold fillings typically requires at least two dental appointments to complete.