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By wda_eugene Dental Health

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.

dental fillings | smiling man

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.

Dental Fillings and Restorations

Dental Fillings and Restorations Weymouth MA

In the past, patients had fewer choices when it came to dental fillings and restorations. In today’s world, you have more treatment choices than ever before. One of these comes down to whether you want traditional silver fillings, also called amalgam fillings, or tooth-colored ones.

Disadvantages of Silver Fillings

 Although traditional silver amalgam fillings are safe and effective, they can really stand out, making them less desirable for teeth that are more noticeable.

Larger amalgam fillings can cause tooth enamel to appear gray over time. They also require removal of more tooth structure.

Advantages of Tooth-Colored Restorations

The main advantage of tooth-colored restorations and fillings is that they closely blend in with surrounding teeth. In fact, if you undergo a tooth-colored restoration, it is not likely that anyone will be able to detect it.

Dental fillings weymouth ma | woman smiling

Types of Tooth-Colored Fillings

Here are a few types of available tooth-colored fillings:

Composite Fillings 

Sometimes called composite resin, this is the most popular type of tooth-colored filling. The material is a mixture of resin with a quartz or glass filler to achieve a white color.

Although composite resin fillings are fairly sturdy, the are not as strong as amalgam and are more commonly used for filling small to medium cavities.

Porcelain Fillings

Most people find that porcelain more closely matches the color of natural teeth than any other type of filling or restoration. One drawback is that they are also more expensive than composite.

Inlays and Onlays

Like dental crowns, inlays and onlays are created in a dental lab to be cemented onto teeth. Inlays are used when only a small part of the tooth needs restoring, while onlays cover the entire chewing surface.

Inlays and onlays typically require two dental visits for placement.

Resin or Glass Ionomers

Ionomers are made from a translucent material like glass, acrylic, or sometimes resin. Since they are more susceptible to fracture, they are typically used for filling small areas that experience less stress, like near a tooth root or in between teeth.

Replacing Silver Fillings With a Tooth-Colored Restoration

Recently, many dentists have been moving away from using traditional silver fillings and using tooth-colored ones instead. Some patients also like to have their old fillings removed and replaced with tooth-colored fillings. This is commonly done when amalgam fillings already need replacing. 

One thing to consider before replacing your silver fillings with a tooth-colored restoration is that it can sometimes cause temporary tooth sensitivity. The larger your traditional fillings, the greater your risk of experiencing tooth sensitivity. Fortunately, this tooth sensitivity is normally temporary and resolves itself within a few weeks.

What To Expect

Receiving a tooth-colored filling typically takes about an hour, depending upon the number of fillings required. Your dentist would first numb your gums around the tooth so that you are comfortable during the procedure.

If the tooth is decayed, your dentist will remove the decay and clean the tooth. They will then reshape the inner part of the tooth to make room for your new filling.

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