Fillings are commonplace today at the dentist office. They are an early warning repair system for teeth that have suffered from cavities or decay. When performing a filling, the dentist first removes the bad part of your tooth that is decayed or suffering and then fills it with a durable “filling” which helps bacteria and other decay from attacking your teeth.
The materials used for fillings include porcelain, gold, silver, and a composite resin. All types of fillings have their positives and negatives. Besides cost, several factors come into play. Your reaction to different material, the shape of the tooth, extent of repair, and where the filling is needed will be determining factors as to what material is used with your filling.
If a cavity, decay, or even a crack has managed to damage a large area of the tooth, you may need a crown or a cap. If the decay has managed to get to the nerve, you may end up needing a root canal to get rid of the dead pulp. However, if you are fortunate enough that your tooth can be repaired by a filling, he will remove the cavity then fill the hole with a material listed above. Depending on your insurance and what you can afford, you can choose which one you want or take his recommendation. In most cases, porcelain or composite fillings will be recommended. Gold fillings are popular, although most people want a filling that will match the natural color of their teeth.
So here are the different types of fillings:
Gold fillings usually are the best type of fillings to get. They contour well, are very durable, and can usually last many years unlike the other filling types.
Silver fillings are the next on the chain. They are definitely less expensive than gold but still have some great durability. One negative is that with their color they are the easiest to notice, especially if the cavity is up front. Often times the dentist will recommend this filling for cavities for back teeth where the silver is not so easily seen.
Composite feelings are common as well. They are usually mixed directly in the cavity where it then hardens. They are not as durable. They can last many years but are not recommended for larger cavities. A big plus is they can match your tooth color pretty closely.
Porcelain fillings are popular as well as they can matched to the color of your teeth. They are fairly resilient but can be quite expensive at times.
Lastly, when it comes to getting your feelings, you won’t feel much as you will get novacain (general or local) so that when the fillings go in, you will not feel anything. Appointments typically last an hour, after which you will for the most part be able to lead your regular lives right after the appointment.
Want to find out more about teeth whitening and dental procedures? Emil Benjamin writes often for teeth whitening in chicago as well as for dentist glendale california.