Various types of tooth fillings

Tooth fillings have become a normal part of dental care because they restore a tooth that has suffered from decay or a cavity to its original condition. When performing a filling, a dentist will get rid of the corroded part of the tooth, thoroughly clean all around it, then fill the spot that has been removed with a specific product that conforms to the structural form of the tooth.

Tooth fillings work by closing up the spot where germs enter the tooth, preventing any kind of decay down the road. The types of material used for teeth filling include porcelain, ceramic, gold, composite resin and amalgam. There’s actually no best kind of filling, as many factors are important in determining which type should be used. Your response to different materials, the form of the tooth, the amount of restoration needed, and the exact location of the filling will determine what material is used for your filling.

Gold tooth fillings are produced in a laboratory and then cemented into position by the dentist. Gold material will fit very well with the gum line and will last for several years. Gold is considered by many people to be the best filling material, although it’s also the most expensive option. With gold tooth fillings, you should expect to visit the dentist a couple of times prior to the filling being complete.

Silver tooth fillings are cheaper than gold tooth fillings, and they are usually fairly resistant to wear and tear. Because of their dark colour, they are much easier to see than composite or porcelain dental tooth fillings and are not suitable for visible places of the mouth, particularly the front teeth. Composite tooth fillings are a popular kind of material because they match the colour of teeth. The material that produces the composite filling is mixed and then placed right inside the cavity, where it hardens. Composite tooth fillings last a number of years, although they are not suitable for large cavities or locations where they can chip.

Porcelain is quite common and is manufactured in a laboratory where it will be matched to your teeth so it can fuse on the damaged tooth. Porcelain tooth fillings match the colour of your tooth and they are resistant against any kind of discoloration. The price for porcelain tooth fillings can be quite high, some costing just as much as gold tooth fillings.

Remember that only a qualified dentist can make the right decision relating to tooth fillings. Whenever you go for your scheduled check-ups, the dentist will look in your mouth and use tools that allow him or her to look at the surfaces of your teeth. If he or she detects any cavities, he or she will generally suggest a filling. You will not sense anything at all, because the area that will be filled will be numb. It usually takes well under an hour, and you will be up before you realize it. A filling is ideal for cavities, as most appear natural plus, you won’t lose your tooth.