Types of Dental Fillings

You know that if you have a cavity a filling can be used to repair your tooth and relieve your symptoms, but did you also know that there are a variety of materials that can be used to complete the task? Amalgam, gold, porcelain, and composite are some of the most commonly used filling materials. Today, our Toronto dentists explain the differences between these materials and when they are used.

Restoring Tooth Structure with Fillings

Fillings for teeth can be made from a variety of materials, including amalgam, porcelain, gold, and composite resins. In addition to being safe and long-lasting, each of these materials has its own set of advantages and disadvantages.

Composite Fillings

Composite fillings are plastic tooth-coloured fillings that look and feel natural when placed in a patient's mouth.

These fillings are the same colour as your natural teeth, allowing them to blend in seamlessly with the rest of your smile. Composite materials are also relatively easy to shape and mould onto teeth, and because they 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 apply bonding material to the inside of the cavity. After that, thin layers of composite resin are poured into the hole. With the help of a curing light, each layer hardens to a solid state. When the final layer of the filling has hardened, your dentist will shape the filling so that it matches the shape 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 lab and returned to your dentist, who cements it in place in your mouth. It is typically necessary to schedule at least two dental appointments in order to complete the procedure.

Amalgam Fillings

Amalgam fillings are silver in colour and 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.

Much like the porcelain fillings, this type of dental filling is made in a dental lab and then returned to your dentist, who cements it into place inside your mouth. As a result, this type of filling typically requires at least two dental appointments to complete.