What are the Different Types & Materials used to Make Dental Fillings?

Procedure of Getting Dental Fillings

Getting dental fillings although seeming painful, is a routine procedure performed by many dentists frequently on patients with tooth decay, a chronic condition among Americans to restore their teeth.

If you have a cavity or two on or between your teeth, you might think about the different types of materials of dental fillings you can have on your affected tooth. While you have the freedom to decide by yourself on which material you would like to have on a particular tooth, it helps if you accept the suggestion of our dentist in bridge city, TX, 77611, before deciding on the material.

Dental professionals recommend the type of material suitable to restore your teeth after considering various factors such as the location of the hole, the severity of the damage, your budget, and insurance coverage, and preferences for recommending the filling material best suited for your requirements.

This blog focuses on the various types of materials used to restore teeth affected by tooth decay. You help yourself by learning about these materials because they assist in making an informed decision when restoring your natural teeth.

Types of Materials of Dental Fillings

Silver Amalgam Fillers

Silver amalgam fillings are incredibly popular, containing a combination of materials including tin, zinc, copper, and mercury. These fillers are popular because of their durability and longevity besides affordability. Amalgam fillers remain in your teeth for a decade or more with proper care and can withstand the forces of biting and chewing. In addition, the material is easy to use because it is malleable.

Unfortunately, amalgam fillers are not aesthetically pleasing, making them unsuitable for visible teeth. In addition, the material responds to temperature changes by contracting and expanding, causing tooth cracks. The fluctuations might create gaps between the tooth and fillings to permit food particles and bacteria to create additional damage within the tooth. The controversy surrounding the presence of mercury has made many people scared of these fillers. However, the FDA has authenticated the safety of silver amalgam fillings.

Composite Resin Fillings

Plastic and resin material help make composite fillings placed within the tooth and hardened with ultraviolet light. Composite resin fillings are also popular because, besides functioning as fillers for cavities, they help restore damaged teeth in a minimally invasive procedure. Composite filters are matched to the color of your teeth by our tooth-filling dentist near you to ensure they don’t impact your aesthetic appearance. Tooth-colored fillers are suitable for the front and back teeth, although they are not as durable as amalgam fillers and cost more while requiring replacements every 5 to 7 years.

Glass Ionomer Fillings

Ionomer fillers are made from glass and acrylic and are generally used in developing teeth of children. These fillers release fluoride to protect the tooth from additional decay. Unfortunately, the fillers are weak and do not have the durability of composite resin while remaining expensive.

Ceramic Fillings

Porcelain helps create ceramic fillings making them durable and cosmetically appealing. Ceramic filters are the most expensive but are tooth-colored, stain resistant, and durable. Unfortunately, ceramic fillings have drawbacks because the material is brittle and is better used on large cavities to prevent them from breaking the tooth.

Choosing the Right Type of Dental Filling

Looking at the different filling materials might confuse you about the filler you must have two restore your damaged tooth. However, as mentioned earlier, if you accept the suggestion of your dentist, you will likely have a durable restoration in your tooth, complementing your requirement without impacting your smile.

For example, silver amalgam fillers are routinely recommended for your molars that withstand the biting and chewing process and lack aesthetic appeal. In addition, amalgam fillers won’t affect your smile unless you open your mouth wide enough. You can also have composite resin fillers on the molars if you are willing to pay higher prices for them besides seeking replacements every five to seven years.

Composite resin fillers that the dentist matches to the color of your remaining teeth are best suited for cavities on and between your anterior teeth, which remain virtually indistinguishable from your natural teeth.

Get in Tough with a Dentist Near You

Getting your tooth restored after developing cavities is a requirement you cannot overlook. At the same time, deciding by yourself without the dentist’s advice can result in unsuitable restorations and impact your smile. Therefore you must select the material suitable for your teeth carefully by adhering to the advice of your dentist.

Edgerly dentistry provides dental fillings in Bridge City, TX to all patients offering the materials mentioned above as the best available for restoring teeth. If you must have cavities filled, kindly contact our practice to repair your teeth.