Enhance Your Smile with the Best Fillings For Teeth
When a person has a small fracture or dental decay, then using different types of fillings is the best restorative treatment.
In Canada, at least 20% of adults have one filled cavity. Hence, we can say that it is a pretty common procedure.
Dental fillings are made of a single or a combination of substances. And to select the best fillings for teeth, you need to consider a few aspects.
To know the best fillings for teeth and why getting them is important, read this blog.
What are Dental Fillings?
Whenever a tooth needs to be repaired, a dentist uses different types of fillings.
It plays a crucial role in fixing the natural structure and function of the teeth.
Normally, when a person visits a dental clinic with a cavity, the dentist gets rid of the decayed part. After cleaning that region, the dentist fills the empty area with the best fillings for teeth.
Due to various types of fillings, the decay doesn't spread more as the infected space is blocked.
Why You Should Get Dental Fillings?
Even though we make a daily effort to clean and floss our teeth and steer clear of sugary meals and snacks, tooth decay can still occur.
For both adults and children, tooth decay is the most common chronic dental issue.
Inadequate oral hygiene practices lead to the deterioration of tooth enamel.
Even though enamel is the strongest component of the tooth, plaque accumulation has the power to erode it.
The plaque will cause some holes, also known as cavities, to appear in the enamel.
The tooth that has these cavities will be susceptible to more decay if treatment is delayed.
Reasons For Choosing the Best Fillings For Teeth
Choosing the best fillings for teeth is necessary for a number of reasons.
And one of the reasons is that it helps reduce teeth sensitivity.
Tooth decay-induced cavities are more susceptible to temperature changes and pressure.
Delaying dental treatment may lead to discomfort when consuming hot or cold meals and drinks.
You may be in continual pain and discomfort if a cavity has progressed to the point where the dentine, the interior part of the tooth, is visible.
Dental fillings stop tooth deterioration in its tracks.
If a dental cavity is not filled, bacteria could still be interacting with the tooth and causing more decay.
If you get a dental filling as soon as your dentist finds the cavity, it will only be possible to produce a tiny, manageable hole.
That aside, the best fillings for teeth also aid in strengthening your teeth again.
A cavity will enlarge if you do not treat it quickly enough and allow it to expand.
Your tooth will weaken and thin as the decay progresses, and in the end, it may cause chips or cracks.
In more extreme situations, the damage could be so extensive that it reaches the neighbouring teeth or even the nerve tissue.
Infection prevention is another benefit of treating dental cavities. The cavity will continue to become infected if treatment is not received. It's possible for the decay to reach the tooth pulp.
To manage the excruciating pain and discomfort from this, you may require procedures like root canal therapy to treat such a tooth.
Such treatments are more expensive and time-consuming than various types of fillings for teeth.
The Procedure Involved in Getting the Best Fillings for Teeth
To make the patient more comfortable during the dental filling treatment, a local anesthetic is first applied to numb the area surrounding the damaged tooth.
The tooth that has decayed or been injured, along with any surrounding tissue, needs to be made ready for restoration.
Using a laser or dental handpiece, the dentist removes the affected part.
Then, for cleaning, they use an acid gel that gets rid of any last bits of debris or bacteria.
The cavity is subsequently filled by applying the filling material to the affected area.
Isolating the damaged tooth before applying a filling is necessary to avoid interfering with the bonding process.
Different adhesives are applied before the material to get everything in place.
A specialized bonding light solidifies the composite material.
Once you get the best fillings for teeth, the dentist polishes to finish the final look.
Learn More: 10 Surprising Foods That Can Damage Your Teeth
5 Common Types of Fillings
To understand what are the best fillings for teeth, you need to read all the types below:
1.Gold Fillings
Because gold is such a robust metal, it can bear forceful biting, grinding, and prolonged chewing. For this reason, gold crowns are perfect for people whose teeth show noticeable wear patterns.
Also, it has been a part of dentistry for hundreds of years.
Gold crowns are resistant to oxidation and surface blackening, and they are break and chip-resistant.
Likewise, gold fillings do not tarnish and are less likely to expand or contract in response to temperature variations.
There are no unfavourable reactions or detrimental impacts on your well-being, making them one of the best fillings for teeth.
The crowns fit into the gum lines rather nicely.
There are no oral health problems or irritations associated with the crowns or fillings.
Pros of Gold Fillings
Durability: It doesn't corrode and lasts for at least 10 to 15 years.
Strength: Able to tolerate forces from chewing.
Aesthetics: Compared to silver amalgam fillings, some patients believe gold to be more visually appealing.
Cons of Gold Fillings
Cost: The cost of gold fillings is higher than other materials; it can be up to ten times greater than silver amalgam fillings.
Additional Appointments: To get these fillings, you must visit dental clinics more than once.
Galvanic Shock: A sudden, intense pain may happen if a gold filling is positioned right next to a silver amalgam filling. When the metals and saliva mix, an electric current may be generated in your mouth. Nevertheless, the occurrence of such a situation is rare.
Aesthetics: Some patient may not like the flashy gold in their mouth.
2.Silver Fillings
Silver dental fillings comprise a combination of metals.
Amalgam fillings often contain 50% or more mercury mixed with silver, copper, tin, or zinc.
These fillings are the least expensive option when it comes to fillings, yet they are also highly resilient and long-lasting.
Amalgam fillings have a silver tint when first applied but gradually darken.
When you open your mouth, they become less obvious with time. Amalgam fillings do have certain disadvantages.
One of them is that to make room for the filling material, doctors need to remove more of the tooth. Furthermore, abrupt temperature changes may cause them to fracture and break.
To decide if they are the best fillings for teeth, here is a breakdown of their pros and cons.
Benefits of Silver Fillings
Durability: They last for several years.
Strength: Able to tolerate activities like chewing.
Cost: It is an affordable option.
Drawbacks of Silver Fillings
Aesthetic: Silver fillings don't blend in with the colour of teeth.
Damage Neighboring Teeth: More tooth structure changes to create a gap big enough to accommodate the amalgam filling. Sometimes, the dentists even have to remove the undamaged part.
Discoloration: Amalgam fillings may give the surrounding tooth structure a grayish tint.
Damage: While all teeth expand and contract in response to hot and cold liquids, these reactions can eventually lead to a tooth cracking or breaking.
Changes Shape: Compared to alternative filling materials, amalgam material may expand and contract to a greater extent, increasing the likelihood of cracks and fractures.
Reactions: Some people may be allergic to the mercury in amalgam restorations.
Health Risk: The amalgam releases low mercury concentrations into a vapour that can be inhaled and taken in by the lungs.
High exposure to mercury vapour may have some negative consequences in the kidneys and brain.
According to studies, there is no connection between amalgam fillings and health issues, and the FDA deems them safe for use in adults and children six years of age and older.
3.Composites Fillings
Because composite fillings blend in with your tooth and give you a natural appearance, many people consider them the best fillings for teeth.
Resin, fillers like quartz, other agents such as fused silica, aluminosilicate, borosilicate, or zirconia, and silane coupling agents make up composites.
The biggest challenge with these types of filling is the damaged teeth.
By this, we mean hard-to-reach tooth areas like molar chewing surfaces are usually unsuitable candidates for composite fillings.
Pros of Composite Fillings
Aesthetics: The composite fillings' hue and tone can be carefully matched to natural teeth. Composite materials are best for teeth that are visible, such as the front teeth.
Bonding to Tooth Structure: Composite fillings further reinforce the tooth structure by micromechanical bonding.
Versatility: Composite fillings are useful for treating decay and mending cracked, chipped, or worn teeth.
Causes Lesser Damage: The dentist doesn't need much space to use these fillings.
Cons of Composite Fillings
Doesn't Last Long: Composite fillings break down more quickly than amalgam fillings, lasting at least five years as opposed to amalgams' minimum of ten to fifteen years.
Weak Strength: They may not withstand chewing pressure as long as amalgam fillings, especially when used in large cavities.
Longer Treatment Time: These fillings may take longer to place than amalgam fillings due to the composite material application process.
Additional Visits: You may need multiple office appointments if composites are used for inlays or onlays.
Chipping: Composite materials have the potential to chip off teeth, depending on their placement.
Cost: The price of composite fillings may double that of amalgam fillings.
4.Ceramic Fillings
When discussing the best fillings for teeth, how can we miss ceramic fillings?
Porcelain is mainly used for these fillings because it is stain-resistant compared to composite resin.
This substance can cost as much as gold and often lasts for more than 15 years.
5.Glass Ionomer
The last option on the list of the best fillings for teeth is glass ionomer.
It is a combination of a glass substance and acrylic.
These types of fillings require drilling below the gum line.
Glass ionomers release fluoride, which may help shield the tooth from more decay.
However, compared to composite resin, this material is weaker and more prone to wear and breakage.
Glass ionomers cost about the same as composite resins and typically last five years or less.
The most recent ones are comparable to composites and have a longer lifespan when used in the right locations.
Finally, these are the options from which you can choose the best type of fillings for teeth.
Remember, the more time you take to select from the types of fillings, the more damage you may do to your dental health.
So, talk to your dentist about your preferred option and get the treatment before it's too late.
FAQs
What is the best teeth whitening for fillings technique?
Unfortunately, teeth whitening procedures don't work on different types of fillings as they are formulated for natural teeth.
Do I need to follow a special routine for the best fillings for teeth?
No. You should treat all fillings like your natural teeth and follow the same dental care routine as your original teeth.
What is a cavity-filling alloy?
Amalgam is a common type of dental filling. It is made of liquid mercury and a mixture of metals, such as silver, copper, and tin, in a powdered form.
In Conclusion
That is all you need to know about the types of fillings. After going through the blog, you can choose the best fillings for teeth according to your feasibility and preference.
If you need the procedure seamless, KWC Dental is at your service!