5 Main Types of Dental Fillings

What Are Dental Fillings?

They are materials used in dentistry to repair dental cavities and dental decay. The whole point of an oral filling is to fill the hole created in your teeth when you have dental decay.

The process of tooth decay starts with a tooth cavity. A cavity is a hole that forms on the surface of a tooth when it is infected. The infection eats in the enamel, creating a cavity that acts as the access hole to the inside of your teeth. A dentist near you will recommend a dental filling to seal the cavity before the decay process continues. If not, the infection will spread into the insides of your teeth, causing tremendous oral problems.

What Steps Are Involved In Filling A Tooth?

Dentists in Boynton Beach conduct many filling works in dentistry. Fillings are not only used to repair decayed teeth, but also broken ones. The process of filling a tooth follows the following steps:

• Local anesthesia – a decayed tooth is most likely painful because of the infection. Sedation is used to help numb the pain.
• Cleaning out the infection – the dentist in Boynton beach FL will clean out all the infection and bacteria from your tooth. This ensures that no bacteria is sealed in under a filling, which would otherwise continue the decay process. This is done using a drilling tool or laser, to fully remove the decayed part of your tooth. Afterward, a regular dental cleaning will be done to wash out all the bacteria and food debris.
• Application of the filling – this step differs depending on the type of dental filling you get. Different types have different application methods.

Types of Dental Fillings Used in Dentistry

Several types of fillings exist in dentistry, and the common ones are:

• Gold fillings – they feature gold as the primary material. However, an alloy of other metals can be used in creating the filling. These fillings were popular because of the luxury of the gold material. Besides that, the sturdiness of the gold material makes for a strong filling. However, they are very expensive, and not necessarily cosmetically appealing, particularly for front teeth.
• Silver fillings – are commonly known as amalgam. They are by far the most common types of fillings in dentistry. They feature silver as the primary material. However, silver fillings have mercury and other metals in them. The great thing about amalgams is that they are relatively inexpensive, therefore affordable by most patients. However, the silver color is not aesthetically pleasing to the eyes, and not that much befitting for usage in front teeth restoration.
• Tooth-colored composite fillings – if your aesthetic needs are high when it comes to dental care, these are just the fillings for you. Composite fillings can be matched to the color of your natural teeth. You can barely tell apart your natural teeth from the filling. Besides, these fillings are not just perfect for fixing front teeth but are versatile to be used for other cosmetic roles in dentistry. Even then, the durability of these fillings is not as much as that of other fillings. The cost is also not as having that they can cost up to twice the cost of amalgams.
• Ceramic fillings – or otherwise called porcelain fillings. They feature porcelain material, that can also be color-matched to the color of your natural teeth. With a lifespan of a little over 15 years, these fillings can cost almost as much as gold fillings.
• Glass ionomer – they are very unique from other types of fillings, featuring a glass material called acrylic. They have an appealing aesthetic effect, making them perfect from front teeth treatment. They are highly used for treating teeth below the gum line and are also common among children.