Dental fillings are a type of dental treatment used to restore the damaged teeth. They are used to repair cracked, broken, injured, superficial damaged teeth. Moreover, fillings can close off the spaces where the bacteria can enter the tooth and prevent further decay. If you need dental fillings, contact our dentist in Richmond Hill for a consultation. Here at Emergency Dental Office, Dr. Alireza Kamali meets your dental needs in the shortest possible time. In our modern and well-equipped dental clinic, an x-ray will be used to check your teeth for the extent of cavities and decay.
During the filling process, our dentist removes the decayed part of the tooth with a drill, laser, or air abrasion instrument and fills the area with dental fillings. This process is done under local anesthesia. Mostly, the dentist uses dental fillings to fill in the cavities that result from tooth decay.
Besides, tooth sensitivity caused by tooth decay can be treated with dental fillings. However, in some cases, additional treatments may be required depending on the type and degree of complications.
Different Types of Dental Fillings
Today, there are various dental filling materials that the dentist selects one of them according to the location and extent of the decay. Here are different types of dental fillings.
- Composite (tooth-colored)
One of the main reasons for its popularity is that the composite material’s color matches the color of natural tooth color. Dental composites usually need to be replaced after five years. They are also not as durable as metal materials. Besides, they are stained by drinking tea, coffee, and tobacco. Composites are more expensive than amalgam and much cheaper than gold. They are not an ideal material for large fillings because they may wear or chip over time.
- Gold
Gold dental fillings can last up to 15 years. They can cost about ten times more than silver amalgam. Filling a tooth with gold requires additional office visits.
- Silver amalgam
Silver amalgam can be one of the best options. Due to their dark color, they are not used in front teeth or other visible areas. It consists of mercury mixed with copper, zinc, tin, and silver. It is resistant to wear and also cheaper than gold. Silver amalgam can cause teeth to break due to expansion and contraction. It last at least 10-15 years.
- Ceramic
Ceramics are often made of porcelain. They are beautiful and durable, but a coating is applied to them because they may become uneven after a while.
Is Dental Fillings Dangerous?
It should be noted that no particular problem has been reported so far. So, the use of these materials is recommended until the new technology introduces a new alternative. The patient should not consume food within 30 minutes after filling the tooth.
There are also glass ionomer fillings that contain glass particles. If a large portion of the tooth is damaged, the dentist may recommend crowns . The root canal therapy will be performed in the dental clinic if the decay has reached the tooth nerve. Contact us if you require dental fillings. Our dentist offers a full range of emergency, restorative, and cosmetic dental procedures.
