ADVANCED DENTAL SOLUTIONS
Repairing Cavities Caused By Damage Or Decay.
Fillings, which are a commonplace and reliable general dentistry treatment, prolong the life of teeth. They can prevent more invasive or complicated treatments from becoming necessary.
They are used to fill any holes left by decay or damage. If applied skillfully, they can have a natural appearance.
Why Are Dental Fillings Needed?
A filling is needed when decay or damage has caused a cavity to form in a tooth.
Why Are Dental Fillings Needed?
If you do not seek treatment, bacteria will penetrate the tooth and cause infection and disease, which will become increasingly painful and can result in tooth loss.
What Types Of Fillings Are Available?
The type of filling you choose will be governed by several factors.
What Types Of Fillings Are Available?
These include how much damage there is to the tooth, which tooth is affected and your aesthetic preference. We are happy to discuss which treatment is best for you at your consultation.
Amalgam Fillings.
These combine a mixture of metals, including silver, tin, mercury and copper.
Patients often refer to these as ‘silver fillings’ as they look silver or grey when they are in the tooth.
Composite Fillings.
Patients often call these ‘white fillings’. They contain a tooth-coloured putty-like material with a complex composition. One of its ingredients is a light-sensitive component, which cures to form a hard filling material on exposure to a high-powered light.
These are colour matched to your tooth and can have a pleasant natural appearance.
Ceramic Fillings.
A dental technician constructs these fillings from dental-grade ceramic material. The ceramic filling forms a chemical bond with your tooth, making the filling very strong.
What are the Advantages Of Tooth-Coloured Fillings?
Tooth-coloured fillings match the colour of your teeth and have a natural appearance.
What are the Advantages Of Tooth-Coloured Fillings?
Many people choose them for fillings in teeth that are visible when they are smiling.
The advantages of tooth-coloured fillings include:
- The dentist carefully matches the colour of filling to your tooth, making it blend in and be less noticeable.
- Tooth-coloured fillings do not contain mercury unlike amalgam fillings do, so there is no potential risk to health or the environment.
- Some patients go on to have less discomfort and tooth sensitivity when using composite fillings as compared to amalgam fillings.
- Tooth-coloured fillings do not mask the tooth from X-rays in the same way as amalgam fillings can, which allows any further tooth decay to be plainly visible on an x-ray.
- Teeth with white fillings are less prone to cracking.
What are the Disadvantages Of Tooth-Coloured Fillings?
Most patients prefer tooth-coloured fillings, but there are some disadvantages.
What are the Disadvantages Of Tooth-Coloured Fillings?
Tooth-coloured fillings cost more than amalgam fillings. Their application requires more skill than an amalgam filling. The procedure can take longer than an amalgam filling because the tooth must be completely dry for the filling to be applied.
Which are stronger? Amalgam or Tooth-Coloured Fillings?
In the past, tooth-coloured composite fillings were less durable than amalgam.
Which are stronger? Amalgam or Tooth-Coloured Fillings?
Modern composite materials are now lasting longer than ever before. A tooth-coloured filling’s life span is determined by its location in the mouth, and how much pressure it is subject to when biting.
Prevention Is Better Than Cure!
The best outcome for you is if you avoid the need for any fillings at all!
Prevention Is Better Than Cure!
You can ensure any cavities can be found and remedied as early as possible, by visiting your dentist regularly and following their recommended dental hygiene plan.