What Are The Different Types of Dental Filling?

What Are Dental Fillings?

Teeth fillings are a type of restoration used to repair and restore teeth. There are several reasons why dental fillings in Fort Myers, FL, may need to be used – for example, if a tooth has been fractured and needs to be repaired. The dentist can also use the fillings if you have a cavity that requires sealing. Additionally, the filling can come in handy if a tooth has been weakened, trauma, or cracked.

Dental fillings can be placed in many different locations in the mouth, including the front teeth, back teeth, and molars.

What Are the Dental Filling Types?

The teeth fillings come in different types, and Dr. Joseph Vanderbosch will choose the right one based on the severity of the problem, cost, and the location of the affected teeth.

• Amalgam fillings 

Amalgam fillings are restorations made of a material composed of mercury, silver, copper, and tin. They are used to fill cavities in teeth and restore the shape of the tooth.

One of the pros of amalgam fillings is that they are inexpensive, durable, and easy to work with. They can also be used in many different cavities, including those drilled out from teeth.

The cons of amalgam fillings are that they can release mercury, a toxic metal that can cause neurological issues. Furthermore, they are not aesthetically appealing because they have a silver look, which does not match the rest of the teeth.

The amalgam fillings tend to expand more when exposed to heat and cold temperatures. Some people have allergic reactions to the metals used in amalgam fillings. Visit an emergency dentist near you if you experience an allergic reaction.

• Composite fillings 

The composite filling material is made from artificial resins and finely ground glass particles. It is then set in place with light-curing adhesive, which hardens to form a strong bond.

Composite fillings are not as durable as other fillings because they have less structural support than amalgam fillings.

But, resin fillings can last for a decade, depending on how well they fit in the mouth and how well they are cared for. Because composite fillings do not bond with tooth enamel and amalgam fillings, they may require more frequent visits to a dental office near you for examinations and professional cleanings, which are usually recommended every six months.

• Ceramic fillings 

These teeth fillings are made of porcelain and are the most durable filling. They come at a higher cost, but they look aesthetically pleasing and resist stains and abrasion better than composite resin.

The downside of using ceramic filler is that it’s a lot less durable, so it needs to be carefully used on larger cavities. The dentist can make the hole bigger with a special process if they want to use this type of material.

• Glass ionomer fillings

This filling is composed of a mixture of acrylic and glass. A filling dentist near you may recommend them to children because their teeth are still developing and may be exposed to potential deterioration. The fillings also release fluoride for protection purposes.

They don’t survive long because they are inferior to composite resin and are more likely to dent or break. Regular glass ionomer is not as natural-looking as composite resin.

How Are the Dental Fillings Fixed on the Teeth?

Our dentist in Fort Myers will begin the process with an x-ray to detect the size and location of the cavity. The dentist then cleans the tooth before applying a local anesthetic and drilling away any decayed tissue and calculus present.

He cleans out all debris from the hole before applying a filling material to seal it from bacteria. Once this is done, they will shape the cavity by smoothing down any rough edges.

Schedule an Appointment

Visit Freedom Dental Ft. Myers for more information about dental fillings and what you can expect during and after the procedure.