Types of Tooth Fillings
Dental fillings are used to repair decayed teeth and restore their function while preventing additional decay from developing. Consistent, effective brushing and flossing and routine dental visits are the best lines of defense against both gum disease and tooth decay, commonly referred to as cavities, but if you find out you have a cavity, there’s no need to worry: the dental filling procedure is one of the most common, successful dental procedures available. At your dental examination, your dentist will examine each tooth, using a mirror to view the backs of the teeth and any harder-to-see areas, assessing for any areas of visible abnormality or reported sensitivity of pain. If areas of concern appear, your dentist will further examine these areas, using x-rays to supplement the visual examination. If your dentist finds tooth decay during your examination, the type of tooth filling used will depend on the breadth of the damage and on your own treatment preferences. In addition to the extent of decay, factors that could influence the choice of materials include the location of the cavity, the cost of materials and overall cost of treatment, and the potential for allergic reaction to some materials.
Regardless of the type of tooth filling you choose, treating tooth decay early on is the best way to keep it from spreading and continuing to damage the natural tooth. Your dentist will remove all decayed material before placing your filling, which will protect the area and keep the decay from spreading. The most durable type of filling, the gold filling, is also the most expensive. Gold fillings are cemented into place after being custom crafted based on a model of the area to be treated, which means they’re technically onlays. These custom onlays commonly last more than 20 years and are highly compatible with natural tissues; it’s uncommon for gold fillings to cause any irritation or reaction in the surrounding tissues. While they are well-tolerated, treatment with gold fillings requires multiple office visits, compounding their overall cost. Silver fillings, made of medical-grade metal amalgam, are highly resistant to wear and far less expensive than some alternative materials. Because gold and silver fillings are both very visible once they’re placed in the mouth, they may not be the best choice for tooth decay toward the front of the mouth or in other readily visible areas.
Composite dental resin fillings provide a natural appearance, matched to the natural color of the patient’s teeth. Because composite resin is less durable than some other materials, they don’t generally last as long as gold or silver fillings, though their natural appearance and moderate cause make them an appealing option for many patients, and are often the preferable material choice for smaller areas of tooth decay. Porcelain dental fillings, like gold fillings, are custom made in a dental laboratory and then cemented to the affected area of the tooth; fillings used in this way are called inlays or onlays. Like composite resin, porcelain fillings are matched to the natural teeth. Unlike composite resin, however, porcelain fillings are highly resistant to staining and can be used effectively for larger areas of decay. Most of the time, a porcelain inlay or onlay will cover a substantial portion of the tooth, and their cost is comparable to gold onlay fillings.