Even though you clean and floss your teeth every day, you still run the risk of developing cavities despite your best efforts. You can fortunately treat your cavities and get your dental health restored.
The structure of your natural teeth may need to be restored with a dental filling if you have dental cavities or other tooth damage. If it is recommended that you get a dental filling, you have a variety of choices.
Not all fillings are created from the same materials; some are healthier for your mouth than others.
This blog will give you a general overview of dental fillings and whether they are good for your teeth. It will also explain which types are best and most inadequate for your mouth.
Dental Fillings
Dental fillings are restorations used to repair damaged or decayed teeth and restore their structure, functionality, and appearance. They are mixtures of materials like glass, plastic, metals, and others. Filling in the area of the tooth that your dentist removed due to decay is one of the most common uses for dental fillings. Additionally, teeth that have been worn down by misuse or tooth grinding can be repaired, as well as teeth that are cracked, broken, or chipped.
You can choose from a variety of materials to repair your broken teeth, including
- Silver amalgam
- Porcelain
- Composite resin fillings are made of components that are tooth-colored, plastic, and glass.
- Gold
The type of filling that will best meet your requirements depends on the location and severity of the decay, the cost of the filling material, your insurance coverage, and the dentist's recommendation.
Types Of Dental Fillings
Silver amalgam fillings
This is a common type of dental filling. This form of filling contains more silver and also contains tin, zinc, copper, and mercury in addition to other minerals. Because it is strong, durable, and more affordable than other choices, it is preferred by most individuals. A typical silver amalgam filling can last 12 years with consistent usage.
Advantages
- They are strong and long-lasting
- Benefits patients at high risk for dental decay, large tooth preparations, and situations where moisture prevents other materials, like resins, from adhering to the tooth.
- Cost-effective
Disadvantages
Expose small quantities of mercury in vapor form that are able to be inhaled and absorbed by the airways. The brain and kidneys have been linked to negative effects from exposure to high concentrations of mercury vapor.
It can have negative effects on health, and those who are more susceptible to the potential negative effects typically linked with mercury, such as the groups of people listed below, may be at higher risk of health complications as a result of exposure to mercury.
- Pregnant women
- Nursing women and their newborns and babies
- People with pre-existing neurological disease
- Patients with poor kidney function
- People who are allergic to mercury or other components of copper, tin, and silver of dental amalgam
Composite fillings
This particular filling is composed of plastic and resin. While still soft, it is inserted inside the molar, where it is then exposed to a strong curing light to harden it. These fillings are a popular choice because they can be made to fit the colour of your natural teeth, making them less noticeable than silver amalgam fillings. Additionally, composite restorations do not last long compared to some other types. They can last for five to ten years and needs to be replaced.
Advantages
- Aesthetically pleasing
- Matches the color of your existing natural teeth
- Requires less drilling so not as much tooth structure needs to be removed
- In contrast to other materials, they can solidify in a matter of seconds.
- They adhere to the teeth, strengthening them and preventing breaks.
- They can be repaired
Disadvantages
- They are more labor-intensive for your dentist near you to place on your tooth
- Development of sensitivity
- They tend to wear out sooner
- They can stain due to consuming extremely stained foods like coffee or red wine
- They may deteriorate after repeated and/or prolonged contact to alcoholic beverages
Ceramic fillings
They are made of porcelain, which makes them both aesthetically pleasing and sturdy. Ceramic fillings are more expensive than other fillings, but unlike composite resin, they are tooth-colored and more stain- and abrasion-resistant.
Advantages
- Unnoticeable
- Long-lasting and Durable
- Aesthetically pleasing
- Less toxic and stain resistant
Disadvantages
- Expensive
- Requires reducing the size of existing natural teeth
- Can cause discomfort as they can wear on opposing teeth
Gold
Inlays and onlays, which are made of a mixture of gold, copper, and other metals, are another name for gold fillings. Although this kind of tooth filling typically lasts 20 years or longer, it is also the most expensive. Gold fillings also take more than one office visit because impressions must be made at a dental lab before they can be created.
Advantages
- Durable
- It can withstand your chewing forces
- Some patients find gold more pleasing to the eye than silver amalgam fillings
Disadvantages
- Expensive
- Requires multiple clinic visits
- Galvanic shock can occur
What are some signs you may need a dental filling?
Here are a few indicators that suggest you might want to get tooth fillings from an experienced dentist in Edmonton.
- Pain or sensitivity in the tooth when you touch it or put pressure on it
- A visible hole
- Pain in the tooth including toothaches, throbbing pains and sharp pains
- When using dental floss to clean between a specific set of teeth, it continues fraying
- A tooth that feels jagged or rough when you rub your tongue over it
Even if you don't encounter any of these signs, tooth decay may still exist and you may require a filling. This is frequently the situation with smaller holes in your teeth, which may or may not cause you any pain or discomfort.
The best method to keep track of any tooth cavities is to make sure you visit your dentist near you for a checkup and cleaning every six months.
How Should you Care for My Teeth With Fillings?
The upkeep required to avoid holes in the first place is exactly the same care required for dental fillings. Here are a few suggestions for maintaining tooth fillings.
- Brush thoroughly at least twice a day with fluoride toothpaste
- Floss at least once a day
- Limit your sugar intake
- To reduce oral bacteria, gargle with a therapeutic mouthwash that does not contain alcohol.
- Avoid using tobacco products, consume fewer meals that stain, such as coffee and tea, and, when you do, rinse your mouth with water.
- Choose water over acidic beverages like sodas and juice.
- Avoid biting down on hard foods and munching ice
- Visit your dentist for cleanings and checkups at least once a year, or more frequently if your dentist advises.
Contact our experts and book your appointment if you are looking for dental fillings in Edmonton.
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