Everything You Need To Know About Dental Fillings
Dental fillings are a common procedure that dentists use to restore teeth that have been damaged due to decay. The filling material is used to fill in the space that is created by the decay, which helps restore the tooth’s strength and look. Fillings are made from various materials, including amalgam, composite, and porcelain. The type of filling used will depend on the location and size of the cavity, as well as the patient’s budget. Fillings are usually done in one visit, but larger fillings may require multiple visits.
During the procedure, your dentist in Bryn Mawr, PA, will first remove the decayed material and then fill the area with the appropriate material. The filling material is then shaped and polished to match the patient’s natural tooth. Fillings can help to prevent further damage to the tooth by sealing off the area from food particles and bacteria
What Are Dental Fillings?
Dental fillings are a type of dental restoration used to repair minor to moderate damage to the teeth, such as cavities, cracks, and chips. Fillings are made of various materials, including composite resin, amalgam, porcelain, and gold. They are applied directly to the affected tooth, sealing the area and preventing further decay or damage. Fillings are typically used to restore the tooth’s natural shape, size, and function.
What Are The Types of Dental Fillings?
Having a cavity filled, which is a crucial area of your tooth decay, is a routine part of oral health care. When getting dental fillings near you, your dentist removes the affected portion of the tooth, leaving a hole or empty space. The space will then be filled to even out the tooth’s surface, making it “feel” right in the mouth and protecting it from further decay.
Four types of materials are commonly used to fill in the space left by removing a cavity in The Dental Spa – Mainline. Although you may not always have an option in the type of filling you require, it is beneficial to understand the advantages and disadvantages of each.
- Silver Amalgam Fillings
This is the most common type of filling in Bryn Mawr, PA. Silver amalgam is a mixture of minerals that contains 50% silver, 50% tin, zinc, copper, and 50% mercury. 1 It’s a popular filling material among dentists because it’s strong, durable, and inexpensive.
A typical silver amalgam filling can last up to 12 years. Silver amalgam is also relatively easy for a dentist to place in a cavity, and there is no risk of it becoming contaminated by blood or saliva.
However, there are some drawbacks to using silver amalgam. It isn’t aesthetically pleasing, so it’s not a good option for a prominent tooth. The material can also expand and contract over time, causing a cracked tooth. These variations can also cause gaps between the filling and the tooth, allowing food and bacteria to become trapped and new cavities to form.
- Composite Dental Fillings
Composite fillings are made of plastic material and resin that is soft when placed in the cavity and hardened with acuring light. It’s a most popular choice because it can be color-matched to your natural teeth, making it less noticeable than a silver amalgam filling.
Composite fillings do not last long as other types of fillings. They should be replaced every five to ten years. They are also more expensive than silver.
- Ceramic Fillings
These are made of porcelain which are both long-lasting and aesthetically pleasing. Fillings made of ceramic
Ceramic fillings are more expensive than composite resin fillings but are tooth-colored and more resistant to staining and abrasion.
The drawback of using ceramic instead of a composite is that it is more brittle, necessitating a larger size to avoid breaking. This means that the area in your tooth must be made larger to accommodate the extra bulk. These ceramic restorations are commonly known as inlays or onlays.
- ionomer Glass Fillings
These glass-and-acrylic fillings are ideal for children’s teeth that are still growing. They produce fluoride, which helps to protect teeth from further decay. However, they are significantly weaker than composite resin and are more likely to crack or wear out after a few years. In addition, traditional glass ionomer does not precisely match tooth color, as does composite resin.