Do you have a cavity that needs to be filled? There are a few different types of materials that can be used for dental fillings, such as amalgam, porcelain, composite, and gold. Here, our Newmarket dentists share the differences between the types of dental fillings to help you pick the one thats suits you best.
Fillings for teeth can be made from different types 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 are plastic tooth-coloured fillings that feel and appear natural when they are in the patient's mouth.
Composite fillings are close to the same colour as your natural teeth, this lets them blend in easily with your other teeth. These materials are fairly easy to mould and shape onto your teeth, and since they naturally bond to teeth, your dentist won't need to remove as much existing enamel for the preparation process.
To be able to place this kind of filling, your dentist first needs to remove the decay from the tooth, then apply bonding material inside of the cavity. Following this, thin layers of composite resin are poured into the hole. With the assistance of curing light, the layer hardens until it becomes solid. Once the final layer of the filling has hardened, your dentist will shape the filling to match the shape of your natural teeth.
A strong, tooth-coloured dental restoration is made by combining hard and brittle porcelain fillings with metal, this creates a tooth-coloured dental restoration.
Porcelain dental fillings are made in a dental lab and returned to your dentist, who cements them in place in your mouth. Usually, your dentist will need to schedule at least two dental appointments to finish the procedure.
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.
A model of your tooth will need to be taken in order to make a cast gold filling. A mixture of gold and other metals, such as silver and copper, is used to create these pieces.
Similar to porcelain fillings, this kind of dental filling is made in a dental lab and then returned to your dentist, who cements it into place inside your mouth. As a result, this type of filling typically requires at least two dental appointments to complete.