Dental Fillings and Restorations
Dental fillings help “fill in” an area where tooth decay was removed. They can be made from a single material or a mixture of metal, plastic, glass or other materials. Fillings can also be used for the repair of broken or cracked teeth, as well as worn-down teeth caused by things like tooth grinding or nail biting.
Some materials used in dental fillings include:
- Gold
- Porcelain
- Silver amalgam (mercury combined with tin, silver, copper and zinc)
- Composite resin, used in tooth-colored fillings
Disadvantages of Silver Fillings
Silver amalgam fillings are effective for filling cavities caused by tooth decay. Although they are not made of pure silver, they are often called silver fillings because of their appearance and color.
Although silver amalgam fillings are long-lasting and relatively inexpensive, they are not without some disadvantages. One is the fact that these fillings do not match the color of the teeth, making them really stand out.
They can also cause discoloration of the teeth over time. Silver amalgam fillings can cause sensitivity to hot and cold temperatures.
Advantages of Tooth-Colored Restorations
Composite resin fillings have the advantage of closely matching the color of surrounding teeth so that they blend in with your smile. Composite is made from a combination of plastic resin and powdered glass, and is commonly used for inlays, veneers, crowns and fillings.
Replacing Silver Fillings With a Tooth-Colored Restoration
Here are some reasons why you may want to replace an old silver filling with a tooth-colored restoration:
New Cavity
Most people don’t know that after a tooth has had a dental filling, it can still develop cavities. In fact, bacteria love to hang around the edge of dental fillings. So if you develop a new cavity at the edge of an existing filling, or underneath one, you may want to replace it with a tooth-colored filling.
Opening at Filling Edge
In time, old silver fillings can began pulling away from a tooth, creating a small crack between the tooth and filling, leaving space for bacteria to hide and create tooth decay.
Cracked Tooth
It is not uncommon for a tooth to develop a crack around a dental filling. In some cases, a large filling can place undue stress on a tooth, leading to it becoming cracked. Once a crack has formed, bacteria can gain entry and cause tooth decay. This situation offers a good opportunity to replace an old silver filling with a new, tooth-colored one.
What To Expect
Your dentist would begin by numbing any teeth receiving fillings using a local anesthetic. They will remove all tooth decay with a dental drill. In the case of a tooth-colored filling, they would place composite within the tooth and mold it to fit the space within the tooth.
Your dentist applies composite in a series of layers, using a special light to harden the material after it has been applied. Your filling will appear very natural and restore the function of your tooth.