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- OVERVIEW
- ROUTINE CLEANING
- DENTAL HYGIENE
- CANCER SCREENINGS
- X-RAYS/IMAGING
- DENTURES
- TELEDENTISTRY
- DENTAL SEALANTS
- FLUORIDE TREATMENT
- FILLINGS
- SEDATION DENTISTRY
- DENTAL CROWNS
- BRIDGES
Types of Dental Fillings
Dentists may use several different types of tooth fillings to repair cavities. The most common options are gold fillings, amalgam fillings, compose fillings and ceramic fillings. Perhaps, you've heard of inlays or onlays, another name for fillings. Gold and other metals, like copper, comprise the mixture of these fillings. Despite gold fillings being the most expensive option, their durability is excellent. A gold filling can last for up to twenty (20) years or more.
Often, patients choose ceramic because it's aesthetically pleasing and long-lasting. Ceramic restorative fillings are stain-resistant, more abrasive resistant but cost nearly as much as gold fillings. The downside of ceramic is the fragility and larger size of the filling. Amalgam fillings are safe. A great deal of research has examined these fillings and found them to be an effective, long-lasting treatment for dental decay.
Amalgam, or silver, fillings are made with mercury, silver, tin, and copper. In some cases, other metals may be included in amalgam fillings, too. Composite resin matches the color of your tooth, but composite fillings can be less sturdy and more costly than silver or amalgam fillings.
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Related Posts
Sources
MedicineNet. (n.d.). Dental Fillings: What Is a Dental Filling? https://www.medicinenet.com/fillings/article.htm
Colgate. (n.d.). What Is a Filling? Dental Fillings for Cavities. https://www.colgate.com/en-us/oral-health/fillings/what-is-a-filling
Coastal Dental Care. (n.d.). What Is a Tooth Filling? https://coastaldentalcare.com.au/blog/what-is-a-tooth-filling/
Crest. (n.d.). Cavity Fillings: What to Expect, Types, and Problems. https://crest.com/en-us/oral-health/conditions/cavities-tooth-decay/cavity-fillings-what-to-expect-types-problems