A dental filling is a necessary part of dental care. They are used to restore decayed or broken teeth, and they can also be used for cosmetic purposes, such as in the case of veneers and crowns. Fillings come in different forms depending on their material composition, but they all serve the same goal – to protect your tooth from further damage while restoring its function.
Dental fillings help prevent painful toothaches and more serious oral health problems such as infections. If you’re looking for information about dental fillings, Allure Dental has everything you need to know.
This blog post will cover all you require to know about dental fillings.
Types of fillings
Before you agree to get a tooth filling, it’s essential to understand the different available fillings. The filling that your dentist St George recommends will depend on various factors, including the severity of the cavity, how much tooth structure is remaining, and your overall dental health.
The five most common types of dental fillings are:
- Amalgam fillings: These silver-colored fillings are metals, including mercury, silver, tin, and copper. They have been present for more than 100 years and remain the most widely used type of dental filling today. Despite their widespread use, a growing number of people are concerned about the safety of these fillings due to their mercury content.
- They are low-cost and last a long time.
- It can be used instead of dental crowns in some cases.
- Composite fillings: They are made of a mixture of glass or quartz filler in an acrylic resin binder. They are often used to restore the appearance of teeth that have been damaged by decay or stained by coffee, tea, or tobacco.
- They are more expensive than an amalgam filling.
- It cannot be used in every situation.
- Can chip and crack over time.
- Metal fillings: These fillings are made of various metals, including gold, silver, and platinum. They are used when a tooth needs to be restored to its original shape or when it has been damaged by decay.
- Gold is the most expensive type of metal filling.
- More likely to cause allergic reactions than other types of fillings.
- Metal fillings may discolor teeth over time, especially true for silver fillings.
- Ceramic fillings: These fillings are made of specially formulated composite materials, which mimic natural tooth enamel. They are made to match the shape and color of your teeth.
- Dental ceramic is very durable.
- May chip or crack over time.
- Often less esthetic than other types of fillings.
- Glass ionomer fillings: These highly esthetic fillings are made up of plasticized glass, which contains fluoride.
- Glass ionomer material is weaker.
- It takes a long time to finish glass ionomer treatment.
Fillings need replacing
Dental fillings can get worn out over time due to the normal use of the teeth. When this happens, they can no longer protect the teeth from bacteria and food particles, which can cause further damage to the teeth.
In most cases, it is recommended that dental fillings be replaced every five to seven years. If you are overdue for a filling replacement or experiencing any problems with your current fillings, kindly get in touch with your dentist for a consultation. If you fail to do so, you may need to get pain-free tooth extractions in vineland due to damaged teeth.
Having a cavity doesn’t mean you will need a filling
Treatment of a cavity depends on how severe it is. A small, early cavity may only need a fluoride treatment from your dentist.
If the cavity is more advanced, your dentist may suggest a dental filling because the tooth structure has been damaged, which means a filling won’t completely stop the decay. When this happens, you require a dental crown or root canal therapy to help retain the tooth structure.
Expectations during dental filling
After your dentist identifies the cavity, they will numb the area around the tooth with a local anesthetic. You won’t feel pain, but you may feel pressure.
The dentist will then eliminate the decayed part of the tooth and clean it out; then, a filling is used to replace the missing tooth structure and protect your tooth from further decay. The dentist will then sterilize the cavity and surrounding areas. Your tooth may need to be sealed with a protective material such as resin, depending on the filling used.
When it comes to dental fillings, you have a lot of options. But before you make a decision about which filling is best for your mouth and teeth, be sure to do your research so that you’re making an informed choice. We recommend talking with a dentist who can help answer any questions or concerns from this blog post’s information.