What are dental fillings and which ones should you get?

Cavities are a part and parcel of the sedentary life that people live nowadays. Millions of cavities are diagnosed every year in the United States. Hence, if you have one, you are not alone. Cavities are essentially permanently damaged areas on the hard surface of your teeth that leads to tiny holes. These can be caused due to a variety of reasons like frequent snacking, having sugary drinks, and not cleaning your teeth on a regular basis apart from the bacteria that already exist in your mouth. While it is a major problem that requires immediate attention, the treatment is pretty simple. Teeth filling is the process to cover these holes and restore your tooth.

While any Paxton family dental clinic can help you with these, there is a list of different types of fillings you can get. We list them all here.

 

Types of teeth fillings

 

1. Silver: This is the most commonly used material that is in use for more than a century now at any Paxton dental center. The silver filling, also known as an amalgam, is made of a mixture of metals including mercury, tin, copper, silver, and zinc. This make’s it extremely durable and long-lasting apart from being one of the cheapest filling materials. However, since they are dark in color, they are usually easily visible to others.
2. Gold: This material has been long recognized for its great strength. Gold fillings usually last longer than all other filling materials. However, they are expensive and sometimes insurances are unwilling to pay for them. Gold fillings can also cause visibility problems and a possible galvanic shock but only in rare cases. Hence, if you are able to spend some money and want to reduce the time spent at a family dental group, this would be a perfect option for you.
   
3. Composite: A mix of powdered glass and acrylic resin, this material has gained popularity nowadays because of its ability to be color-matched to your existing teeth. These filings are hence considered to be better than metal alternatives. However, they are less durable and can chip as compared to other filling materials. These fillings also bond to the teeth so provide better support and require fewer adjustments to the existing teeth before being filled.
4. Ceramic: Ceramic fillings also bring the advantage of having a more natural appearance. However, these happen to be even more fragile than metal fillings while also being slightly more expensive. These also will require you to visit the dentist multiple times since they are first created in a lab and then fixed on your tooth.

 

Fillings are quite the norm of the day. You should work with your dentist to identify the best material for your current problem. They will suggest the perfect materials keeping in mind the issue, your lifestyle and even sometimes your professional needs. To know more and get a filling a done, get in touch with the experts at Lavana Family Dental today!