What Is a Dental Filling Made of?

Different types of materials are used to make dental fillings. When you visit your dentist to treat a cavity the dentist will initially remove the decayed portion of the tooth before filling the area where the tooth decay existed. Fillings can also be used to repair split or broken teeth along with teeth that may have worn down because of misuse like nailbiting and tooth grinding.

Presently different types of filling materials are available and your teeth can be filled with gold, porcelain, silver amalgam consisting of mercury mixed with silver, tin, zinc, and copper and tooth-colored synthetic, and glass elements are known as composite resin fillings. The extensiveness of the decay and the location of the tooth, the cost of the filling material and the dentist's recommendation can assist in determining the type of tooth filling best suited for your needs. You can, however, choose from one of the following according to your preference.

You can have a cavity filling of cast gold as they are strong and durable and last for 10 to 15 years without corroding. However, these are expensive and may not appear aesthetic. They will require a couple of visits to the dentist's office.

Silver amalgam fillings are being used for over a century and it is the most research material used for filling cavities. These are strong and suitable fillings for the back teeth like the molars and are also affordable. However, they do not match the color of your natural teeth and are susceptible to discoloration and offer poor aesthetics.

Tooth-colored composite fillings can be matched closely to the natural shade of the existing teeth and are particularly suitable for the anterior parts where the visibility of the front teeth is high. You will, however, need to visit the dentist's office a couple of times because placing the fillings will take more time than silver amalgam.

Ceramic fillings made from porcelain are tooth-colored and are stain-resistant and considered better than composite resin fillings. However, they are expensive and can cost the same as gold filling.

Glass ionomer is a blend of acrylic and glass that has been created as a filling material that releases fluoride to protect the teeth. These are unfortunately less durable than other types and may need replacements in about five years.

A consultation with your dentist will give you information about the safest dental filling for your unique requirements as professional advice recommended when repairing cavities in your mouth.