A dental filling restores a tooth damaged by decay back to its normal shape and function, preventing further decay by sealing the tooth. There are a many options when it comes to fillings.
Composite resin fillings are made from a mixture of plastic and fine glass particles. They are made to match the color of the tooth. Composite fillings are most often used on front teeth or the visible parts of the teeth because they are more aesthetically appealing than traditional silver fillings. Routine cavities, closing small spaces between your front teeth and repairing notches that can develop at the gum line area of a tooth are often repaired using composite fillings. In addition to looking like your natural tooth, you can chew on a composite filling the same day that it is placed. Composites are less wear resistant than amalgam, however, they can last for many years.
Amalgam fillings are made from a mixture of metals including mercury and silver. They don’t match the color of your teeth. It is normally used for fillings in the back teeth. These fillings are very strong and can last at least ten years or more.
Gold fillings are made from gold alloy which is extremely durable. Gold fillings do not match the natural color of your teeth and are very costly, but last longer than any other type of filling.
Ceramic fillings are made of porcelain. They look natural because they are tooth colored and more resistant to staining. They are more brittle than composite resin so they tend to break more easily. However, ceramic fillings are expensive, costing as much or more than gold fillings.
Glass Ionomer fillings are made from acrylic and a component of glass – fluoroaluminosilicate. It is very strong and is most often used in people with extensive decay in the part of the tooth that extends below the gum.
Laboratory (Indirect) Processed Restorations are made outside of the mouth in a dental lab from an impression taken of the prepared tooth. They are made for teeth needing a larger filling. These provide the additional strength and durability that a basic composite or amalgam filling cannot provide. These can be tooth colored, gold or silver colored. They may be referred to as an inlay or onlay. An inlay is used to fill areas between the cusps. An onlay covers a larger area and is when a cusp needs to be covered.
Dr. Gould, through his direct affiliation with Crosstown Dental Group in Palmyra PA, has access to one of only 400 Solea Lasers in the country! The Solea enables Dr. Gould to do cavities without anesthesia or a drill.
