When you are plagued with pain in your tooth, chances are you will need dental fillings to treat the cavity that is affecting you. There are different types of fillings used in cosmetic dentistry to repair a chipped, broken or tooth with a hole back to the normal shape.
Types of Dental fillings
There are five common dental filling used in cavity treatment. Below are the types available for treatment according to your damaged tooth or teeth.
Silver Amalgam Fillings
Silver Amalgam fillings are the most common fillings used by the dentist for cavity treatment. The filling is not of pure silver but a mix of silver, zinc, tin, aluminum, and 50 percent mercury.
The reason for using silver amalgam for filling is the durability, strength and affordability. A typical dental filling with silver amalgam will last well over 15 years if properly managed and executed by a certified dentist.
Another pro for using silver amalgam is there is no concern regarding contamination by either blood or saliva for the affected tooth or gum.
This isn’t to say that silver amalgam doesn’t come without its disadvantages. One of the first disadvantageous about this type of filling is that it doesn’t look good to the eyes. If you are the type that is self-conscious, then silver amalgam fillings will certainly mean fewer smiles.
They can also be susceptible air pockets for bacteria to breed under the filling, resulting in slight pain and discomfort.
Composite Fillings
These dental fillings are a combination of plastic and resin material used to fill the cavity. Originally soft, they harden after a blue light cures the material.
The pros of these fillings are that unlike silver amalgam, they are made to suit the color of your teeth for concealment when you smile. However, the con to this dental filling is that it lasts for a limited time in comparison to other types of fillings for a five-year increment replacement.
Ceramic Fillings
These are porcelain made, durable and glitter in the light. They are more expensive than other types of dental fillings. The reason for their expense is not unwarranted; they are scratch resistant, stain resistant and last long, appearing new with proper dental care.
The disadvantages are they are brittle and break easily hence needs to be thicker to prevent breaking.
Ionomer Fillings
These fillings are made of glass and acrylic and is considered the best type of filling for young children and adults whose teeth are still transitioning. Glass ionomer fillings last 5 years like ceramic fillings and offer great protection for the teeth.
The disadvantage of this filling is that it is even more fragile than composite filling and liable to wear and tear with continuous use.
Gold Fillings
Gold fillings are the best types of dental fillings you can afford. They are durable, non-corrosive, and retain their color after long use up to 15 years.
Are My Cosmetic Dental Fillings Insured?
Not completely, most insurance policies don’t cover cosmetic dentistry but will pay for partial charges of tooth fillings.
What Is The Cost Of Having A Dental Filling Done?
The cost depends on a lot of factors like the extent of the damage tooth/teeth, the facility, and the doctor and if you are insured.
However, the cost of a silver amalgam ranges between 50 to 150 dollars for a couple of teeth and almost 300 dollars for more than two teeth.
Tooth resin fillings cost between 100 o 250 dollars and almost 450 dollars for more. You should discuss the cost and payment options with your dentist near me to avoid any trouble post procedure.
What Are Indirect Fillings?
These are like composite filling except they are manufactured in your dentist’s lab after a couple of visits to the office before they are used on your teeth. The dental visits ensure that the structure looks and fits perfectly into your mouth without any discomfort.
After creating the structure, the temporary filling is removed and the new one is cemented into place. With that said, there are two types of indirect fillings:
- The inlays are just like the regular filling but lie within the bumps of the teeth.
- The Onlays are more elaborate and cover all over the crown of the teeth including the cusps.
Inlays are durable, effective, and unaffected by chewing or other mouth motions, with a life span of more than 30 years with proper management.
Cosmetic surgery is not just to fill the holes in your teeth; it is also a way to help restore stained, discolored, chipped, misshapen, or improve the general aesthetic of your mouth.
A cosmetic dentist will develop a suitable plan for you to gain the best smile and dental filling/cosmetic dentistry. Naturally, you need the best doctors and facility.
Edge Dental Houston is your one-stop dental facility that is changing the way we smile. With years for reputable work under our belt, we have worked with plenty of people by changing their lives with a good smile.
For more information or a good facility to resolve your teeth problems – visit us today at www.edgedentalhouston.com
