The majority of people will suffer from cavities at one point in their life. This can happen due to bad eating habits or bacteria. The best and easiest way to treat them is by dental fillings. These filings come in different materials, shapes, colors, and prices. Furthermore, we will explain each material in more detail, when they are used, and their benefits.
When cavities form, they create holes in the teeth. The best way to return the tooth back to normal and to prevent further damage to your oral health is dental fillings. Firstly, they clean the infected area and fill it with the chosen material.
This procedure is done in order to prevent bacteria from entering and to prevent further damage to the tooth structure. The most commonly used materials in dental fillings include gold, porcelain, composite resin, and amalgam.
All these materials have their own benefits and drawbacks. The choice should be made with the help of a professional dentist. Furthermore, we will explain two of the most commonly used dental filling materials, their advantages, and their drawbacks.
One of the most used dental fillings is amalgam. It is composed of different metals, including tin, zinc, copper, and mercury. They have been widely used before since they are strong, last a long time, and dont cost much.
If you properly take care of your teeth the fillings will last for a very long time. Also, dentists find this material easy to work with since it easily takes shape. However, this technique is associated with aesthetic issues and won’t be suitable for front teeth, since their color is black.
Another drawback of amalgam fillings is that they can react to temperature changes by expanding, causing the tooth to crack. These changes have the potential to open a space between the filling and the tooth, allowing food particles and germs to enter and cause new cavities. Silver amalgam is a controversial filler substance, although its safety has been confirmed despite the mercury issue.
Due to several advancements in the dentistry field, many people do not prefer amalgam fillings anymore. However, we still like to point out that they can work great in several cases and they offer huge benefits, especially for people who are on a budget. Here are some of the main advantages that amalgam fillings have to offer:
If you are on a budget and are looking for cost-effective ways to repair cavities in your teeth, amalgam fillings will be the right choice. However, there are several drawbacks that can make you rethink the procedure.
Usually, you cannot feel cavities forming since they do not show any visible signs. In order to identify them during their early stages you have to visit your dentist regularly at least twice a year for your checkups.
However, once they start to show symptoms the first thing you will notice is tooth sensitivity. Other signs like pain and discomfort, while you eat and bite or apply any kind of pressure, are also normal. Also, it is normal to experience sharp and sudden pain without any physical signs.
As soon as you notice those symptoms, schedule a dentist appointment to prevent the cavity from getting worse. This way, the illness can be prevented from spreading by extracting the tooth’s decaying parts. After that, they can use a composite filler to fill and seal the hole.
Additionally, you don’t need to be concerned about how the filling will look on your tooth. Your dentist will do his best to match its shade to the color of your natural teeth. This preserves their natural appearance and makes it harder to detect fillings.
Due to the fact that composite fillings are more aesthetically pleasing, many people will choose this option. Despite that, they are a safer choice since they dont contain mercury, which is the main ingredient in the composition of amalgam fillings.
Due to the composition of amalgam fillings being 50% mercury and 50% other metals, they will start to release over time in a vapor form. This can potentially harm the lungs and even cause damage to the tooth. However, despite this controversy, the FDA considers them as safe enough for adults and children.
Still, some dental clinics still choose to avoid amalgam fillings, so if you are interested in these options you better ask beforehand. Composite fillings will definitely be the best choice if you want to fix cavities. They are made with powdered glass fillers, which makes them the right option for people who want to avoid issues with mercury and want to have a better look.
Amalgam was the first filling material used to treat cavities. Despite their disadvantages, amalgams last for a very long time and are very durable, even more so than composites.
Usually, composite fillings will last around five to seven years, and if a lot of force is applied, they may break more easily than amalgam. However, if you take good care of them and are careful about what you eat, you don’t have to worry about anything.
The first step of the dental filling procedure, regardless of the material you choose, is to remove any damaged parts of the tooth. After that, they need to thoroughly clean it and prepare it for the insertion of the filling material. The time of the procedure will mostly depend on two factors; the size of the cavity and its depth.
When it comes to amalgam fillings the procedure will be simpler and finish fast since the material will shortly take shape. After the dentist gives it the shape he wants, he will put it in the space created in the tooth. Once this step is done, it will harden rapidly, and that will be it. Usually, the whole treatment, including every step, will take approximately 45 minutes.
On the other hand, the composite filling procedure might take longer since the material needs to be placed in layers that need to be hardened with a UV light. The difference in time for both dental filling procedures is not a lot as composite fillings will only take 15 minutes more than amalgam. However, keep in mind that you need to be at the dental office for at least one hour for each tooth.
