Your Kanata Invisalign® Provider
If you have a cavity that requires a dental filling, you may be wondering about the different types of materials available, and which would be best for you. Today, our Kanata dentists discuss the different types of dental fillings available, as well as the advantages of each kind.
Fillings for teeth can be made from a variety of materials, including amalgam, porcelain, gold, and composite resins. In addition to being safe and long-lasting, each of these materials has its own set of advantages and disadvantages. Our dental team would like to inform you of all of the options to help you decide what may be best for you.
Composite Dental Fillings
Composite fillings are plastic tooth-coloured fillings that look and feel natural when placed in a patient's mouth. Composite fillings are the material used at Bridlewood Dental.
Composite fillings are designed to blend in seamlessly with the rest of your smile. This material is also easy to shape and mould onto the teeth, and because they bond naturally to teeth, your dentist will not have to remove as much existing enamel during the preparation process.
The first step in placing this type of filling requires your dentist to remove decay from the tooth and apply bonding material to the inside of the cavity. Next, several thin layers of composite resin are poured into the hole. With the aid of a curing light, each layer will solidify. When the final layer of the filling has hardened, your dentist will shape the filling so that it best matches the shape of your natural teeth.
Porcelain Dental Fillings
A strong, tooth-coloured dental restoration is created by combining hard and brittle porcelain fillings with metal, which results in a tooth-coloured dental restoration.
A porcelain filling is created in a dental lab and returned to your dentist, who cements it in place in your mouth. It is typically necessary to schedule at least two dental appointments to complete the procedure.
Amalgam Dental Fillings
Silver in colour, amalgam fillings are frequently used to fill teeth located at the back of the mouth. They are a mixture of metals, including mercury, silver, copper, and tin, among others.
While the silver colour may not be appealing to people who prefer a more natural appearance, they are a long-lasting option for molars that are subjected to a great deal of wear and tear.
Gold Dental Fillings
To make a cast gold filling, a model of your tooth must first be created. A mixture of gold and other metals, such as silver and copper, is used to create these pieces.
Much like porcelain fillings, this type of dental filling is made in a dental lab and then returned to your dentist. Your dentist will then cement it into place inside your mouth. As a result, this type of filling will typically require at least two dental appointments to finish the process.