The introduction of dental fillings has revolutionized the treatment of decayed teeth. In tooth decay treatment, it is common to remove the decayed part of the tooth and clean out the bacteria. Then fill the space with filling materials. Fillings can also be used to repair broken teeth or teeth that have been worn down by poor oral hygiene. There are different materials that can be used to repair teeth damaged by decay or accidents.

The filling you choose will depend on a variety of factors, including the extent and location of the decay, the cost, the insurance coverage, and your aesthetic preferences. Each filling has pros and cons. You can choose the best one by knowing their pros and cons.

What types of dental fillings are available?

Gold fillings are used as cavity fillings in dentistry today. Amalgam, porcelain, composite tooth-colored fillings or Glass ionomer fillings are also common. Certain fillings can cause allergic reactions in some people.

1) Amalgam Fillings

Silver fillings are also called this because it is a mixture of metals and has been used for centuries in dentistry. Dentists fill molar tooth spaces with this material because of its durability. When you smile, the metallic fillings are visible. It cannot therefore be used to fix front teeth.

Amalgam fillings are a good choice if you're looking for a filling that is strong, but not too expensive. You don't have to worry about its visibility.

Advantages

  • High durability and can last 10 to 15 years
  • Cost-effective
  • The teeth will not be able to chew through the material
  • Disadvantages
  • Easy to identify
  • To create a space for this filling, more tooth structure must be removed

2) Resins or composite fillings that are tooth-colored

The composite filling is made with a glass or quartz blend and can therefore be customised to match your tooth colour. Composite resins can also withstand moderate chewing, but are not recommended for large fillings because they will deteriorate over time. This is why dentists use this material to fill small and mid-sized restorations.

Advantages

  • It is available in a variety of shades that match your teeth color.
  • Composite resins remove less tooth structure
  • Disadvantages
  • Only 5 years maximum durability
  • The price is high
  • Composites are used to repair broken or infected teeth. This requires frequent dental visits
  • Highly susceptible to discoloration and stains

3) Fillings with Gold

Another metal used in addition to silver is gold. Silver amalgam fillings have all of the same pros and cons as gold amalgams, such as durability, restoration of the tooth structure, chewing power, etc. Gold fillings are preferred by many people because they look more attractive.

Advantages

  • The material is durable and can resist heavy chewing forces
  • It is aesthetically pleasing despite its visibility
  • Disadvantages
  • Costly
  • If it is next to another metal-filled teeth, it can cause intense pain.

4) Porcelain fillings

Ceramic fillings made of porcelain are highly recommended and preferred because they look good. The tooth-colored filling material is strong enough to restore the strength of broken and infected teeth. These can also be called onlays or inlays, and are used to cover broken front teeth.

Advantages

  • The product is durable and can last for more than 15 Years
  • Stain-resistant
  • Highly aesthetic
  • Disadvantages
  • To make room for the ceramic fillings, a lot of tooth pieces must be removed.
  • Porcelain fillings can be stained and discolored easily.

5) Ionomer glass

It is a mixture of glass and acrylic that contains fluoride, which strengthens the teeth. Glass ionomers are not used as often because they are brittle compared to other cavity fillings. The glass ionomers have a lifespan of 5 years. Glass ionomers can be used to treat milk teeth and baby teeth, as they are still developing and are only temporary.

Bottom Line

Fillings for teeth or dental fillings can help restore the infected areas of a tooth. The fillings can also be used to repair teeth that have been damaged by teeth grinding. Although the fillings contain artificial materials, they require just as much care than natural teeth.