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A filling is a way to restore a tooth damaged by decay back to its normal function and shape. When a dentist gives you a filling, he or she first removes the decayed tooth material, cleans the affected area, and then fills the cleaned out cavity with a filling material.By closing off spaces where bacteria can enter, a filling also helps prevent further decay. Materials used for fillings include gold, porcelain, a composite resin (tooth-colored fillings), and an amalgam (an alloy of mercury, silver, copper, tin and sometimes zinc).. |
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No one type of filling is best for everyone. What's right for you will be determined by the extent of the repair, whether you have allergies to certain materials, where in your mouth the filling is needed, and the cost. Considerations for different materials include:
Gold fillings are made to order in a laboratory and then cemented into place. Gold inlays are well tolerated by gum tissues, and may last more than 20 years. For these reasons, many authorities consider gold the best filling material. However, it is often the most expensive choice and requires multiple visits.
Amalgam (silver) fillings are resistant to wear and relatively inexpensive. However, due to their dark color, they are more noticeable than porcelain or composite restorations and are not usually used in very visible areas, such as front teeth.
Composite (plastic) resins are matched to be the same color as your teeth and therefore used where a natural appearance is desired. The ingredients are mixed and placed directly into the cavity, where they harden. Composites may not be the ideal material for large fillings as they may chip or wear over time. They can also become stained from coffee, tea or tobacco, and do not last as long as other types of fillings generally from three to 10 years.
Porcelain fillings are called inlays or onlays and are produced to order in a lab and then bonded to the tooth. They can be matched to the color of the tooth and resist staining. A porcelain restoration generally covers most of the tooth. Their cost is similar to gold.
If decay or a fracture has damaged a large portion of the tooth, a crown, or cap, may be recommended. Decay that has reached the nerve may be treated in two ways: through root canal therapy (in which nerve damaged nerve is removed) or through a procedure called pulp capping (which attempts to keep the nerve alive).
Wouldn't you rather have white fillings? Silver amalgam has served as a filling material for teeth since the 1840s, but technology has advanced to where we can place white fillings on back teeth.
Advantages of White Fillings
:: They require less removal of tooth structure. In order to be strong enough, silver amalgam fillings have to be at least two millimeters deep, and all weakened tooth structure needs to be removed. Because white fillings are bonded to the teeth, the weak and undermined tooth structure can be left alone, and there is no minimum depth required.
:: They are more comfortable. They don't conduct heat and cold the way metal fillings do, and in the bonding process, the sensitive part of the tooth is sealed, so there is less sensitivity.
:: They don't detract from your smile. When you are laughing or having fun, people can usually see you back teeth. It is much more attractive for people to see white on your back teeth instead of
black.
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RESTORING DECAYED TEETH
(RESTORATIVE DENTISTRY)