Teeth fillings come in a variety of materials, including amalgam, porcelain, gold, and composite resins. Apart from being safe and durable, each of these materials has a unique set of benefits and drawbacks.
Composite Fillings
Composite fillings are plastic tooth-coloured fillings that look and feel natural when placed in a patient's mouth.
Composite fillings are the same shade as your natural teeth, blending in naturally with the rest of your smile. Additionally, because these materials bond naturally to teeth, your dentist will not have to remove as much existing enamel during the preparation process.
To place this type of filling, your dentist will first remove decay from the tooth and then fill it with bonding material. Following that, the hole is filled with thin layers of composite resin. Each layer hardens to a solid-state with the aid of a curing light. After the final layer of the filling has hardened, your dentist will shape it to match the contours of your natural teeth.
Porcelain Fillings
A strong, tooth-coloured dental restoration is created by combining hard and brittle porcelain fillings with metal, which results in a tooth-coloured dental restoration.
A porcelain filling is created in a dental laboratory and returned to your dentist for cementation. Typically, at least two dental appointments are required to complete the procedure.
Amalgam Fillings
Silver in colour, amalgam fillings are frequently used to fill teeth located at the back of the mouth. They are a mixture of metals, including mercury, silver, copper, and tin, among others.
While the silver colour may not be appealing to people who prefer a more natural appearance, they are a long-lasting option for molars that are subjected to a great deal of wear and tear.
Gold Fillings
To create a cast gold filling, a model of your tooth must be created. A mixture of gold and other metals, such as silver and copper, is used to create these pieces.
As with porcelain fillings, this type of dental filling is created in a dental laboratory and then returned to your dentist for placement. As a result, this type of filling is typically completed throughout at least two dental appointments.