Types of Dental Fillings: Choosing the Best Option for Your Cavity
Finding out that you have a cavity is never good news. However, you have options for repairing your cavity and restoring the appearance of your smile. When it comes to dental fillings, there is no perfect option for everyone. It’s essential to weigh the pros and cons of each choice, including factors such as durability, longevity, cost, and procedure. Let’s look at the different filling options available to help you make an informed decision about your dental care.
Fixing Your Cavity with a Dental Filling
Nearly 90 percent of adults between 20 and 64 have experienced tooth decay. Cavities develop when food, saliva, bacteria, and acid in the mouth mix to create dental plaque, a sticky film that coats the teeth. With improper brushing and flossing habits, the acids found in plaque can start to dissolve enamel, leading to holes or cavities in the tooth’s surface.
Dental fillings are a common type of restorative dentistry used to “fill in” areas of a tooth that have succumbed to damage or decay. While you can choose from several dental fillings, the most common are white composite fillings and amalgam “silver” fillings.
Composite vs. Amalgam Fillings: Which Is Best?
Fillings have come a long way from the traditional silver-colored fillings that were primarily used in the past. While silver or amalgam fillings are still used today, better options are available.
Consider appearance, longevity, stability, preparation, and cost when comparing dental fillings. You’ll also want to consider which filling will allow you to keep more of your natural tooth. For example, composite resin will enable you to keep more of your natural tooth structure due to its ability to form a strong bond with tooth enamel.
Compare composite and amalgam fillings to determine which is best suited for you.
Composite Fillings
Composite fillings, also known as tooth-colored fillings, are a popular choice for fixing cavities as they blend seamlessly with natural teeth. The composite resin material is applied to the tooth in layers during the procedure and hardened with a special light.
There are several key advantages to using composite fillings over alternative materials like amalgam. The composite resin adheres directly to the tooth, creating a strong bond that helps support a healthy tooth structure. This minimally invasive procedure also preserves more of your natural tooth, which can benefit your dental health in the long term.
The lifespan of a composite filling can vary based on the location of the filling, the size of the cavity, and your oral health habits. On average, you can expect a composite dental filling to last 5 to 10 years.
Amalgam Fillings
Dentists have used amalgam or ‘silver’ fillings for decades due to their durability and long-lasting properties. These fillings are made of silver, tin, mercury, and copper. Due to their strength, they are commonly used for cavities on the back teeth, where the chewing pressure is the greatest.
While solid and cost-effective, silver fillings have several drawbacks. First, they are silver in color, which prevents them from blending in with your natural teeth. This metallic hue makes them quite noticeable in the mouth. Placing a silver filling also requires more removal of the tooth structure, which can weaken the tooth over time.
Due to advancements in dental technology, many dentists are replacing amalgam fillings with natural-looking composite resin fillings.
Call Today to Get Your Cavity Repaired
Choosing the right option for your cavity is essential for your smile’s health and appearance. At Artistic Touch Dentistry, our office uses only composite material for fillings to achieve the most natural look, get the strongest bond, and preserve as much of your natural tooth structure as possible. For more information or to schedule your next appointment with our Melbourne, Florida, dentist, contact our office today at 321.724.1400.