Teeth fillings help your dentist restore the portion of your tooth lost due to a cavity. Fillings can also be used to repair fractures and cracks in your teeth or small holes that can occur in a tooth due to a developmental problem. Properly done fillings will allow you to regain the full form and function of your teeth.
Dentists are the only professionals who can determine if a filling will solve your dental problems, but some symptoms and signs can alert you there is a problem with your teeth. These are some of those signs:
There is sharp or throbbing pain in your tooth
You can see a dark spot or hole in your tooth
When the floss string breaks every time you floss
Your tooth develops a rough surface
You see a crack in a previous filling
You chip a tooth
You lose a previous filling placed in your tooth
Your tooth becomes sensitive
Your tooth hurts when biting down on food
When food continuously gets stuck in a tooth
If a cavity is left untreated, it can turn into a much bigger dental problem. Having routine dental exams will reveal the health of your teeth, and alert your dentist at Brady Dental what treatment is necessary, whether it be teeth fillings or other forms of dental care.
Teeth Fillings for Dental Restoration
Repairing a decayed tooth is necessary for dental restoration. Your dentist at Brady Dental will clean out the decayed area, leaving a hole in the tooth. The hole will then need to be repaired by using a filling to make it look natural again. These are the different types of teeth fillings:
1. Composite Fillings
Composite fillings are made from resin and plastic material. The filling material is placed inside of your tooth while it is soft, and will harden with the use of a bright curing light. This choice of filling is popular as it can be customized to match the color of your teeth, making it less conspicuous than amalgam silver fillings.
2. Glass Ionomer Fillings
The glass ionomer fillings are made from acrylic and glass. These fillings will release fluoride into the tooth so it is protected from further decay and can help slow the progression of large decay. Glass ionomers have many of the same physical properties to dentin with comparable compressive strengths and coefficients of thermal expansion, which decrease shrinkage and helps with thermal sensitivity. Glass ionomer fillings can be exceptional for the restoration process.
3. Silver Amalgam Fillings
Amalgam fillings were once the most common fillings. These fillings are made from a combination of minerals, including mercury, copper, tin, and zinc. The reason these fillings were so common is that they are durable, cost less, and last longer. Typically the silver amalgam fillings will last up to twelve years. The downside to the silver (amalgam) fillings is they are visible in your mouth and they can weaken the internal structure since they do not have the same properties as dentin, causing the tooth to fracture and need a crown or root canal in the future. Although silver fillings were once the standard of care, the dentists at Brady Dental Group no longer place silver fillings as tooth colored options available now are much kinder to existing tooth structure as well as being more cosmetic.
4. Ceramic Fillings
Ceramic fillings are made from porcelain material, so these are cosmetically appealing and extremely durable. These fillings will cost more than other fillings but will match the color of your other teeth, and are stain-resistant. The downside for the ceramic fillings is that they are more brittle and will only work on large areas to avoid them breaking.
5. Cast Gold
One of the most expensive teeth fillings is cast gold. These fillings are a combination of gold and other metals to make an extremely strong and long-lasting filling. The cast gold filling can also be seen in your mouth because of its color.
Why You May Need a Tooth Filling at Brady Dental
Teeth fillings are a wonderful dental health aid that can restore your tooth structure and protect it from further infection or decay. If you think you could benefit from a filling, contact your dentist at Brady Dental Group and schedule an appointment to take care of your oral health.
The dedicated staff at Brady Dental Group can handle all your dental needs from a regular check-up to cavity fillings, teeth whitening, and much more. We use a gentle approach to make your visit as stress-free and comfortable as possible.
