Your dentist may want to remove the decayed portion of your tooth and fill that empty slot with a material known as a dental filling. Fillings are also used to treat cracks and chips on teeth.
Steps involved in tooth filling
The dentist will start by numbing the area around the tooth that requires filling. He will then use a drill, laser, or air abrasion instrument to remove the decayed portion of the tooth.
After removing the decayed area of the tooth, the dentist will check the area to determine if the decay has been removed completely. Next, he or she will prepare the area for filling by cleaning the debris and bacteria. After filling that slot, he will polish it to make it a part of your tooth.
If you have opted for tooth-colored filling, the dentist will have to add several steps in the process. He will apply filling in layers. A special ‘curing light’ will be used to harden the filling material. After completing the multi-layer process, he will trim off the excess filling material and polish the surface.
Types of filling materials
There are a lot of dental filling options available. These options differ based on the types of material they use. These materials include gold, porcelain, silver amalgam, and tooth-colored filling.
The type of dental filling you will get depends on the extent of tooth decay, cost of filling material, and recommendation by your dentist.
We will now discuss the advantages and disadvantages of dental fillings.
Cast gold fillings
Advantages
- Cast gold fillings are durable enough to last 10 to 15 years.
- These fillings are strong enough to endure pressure during the chewing process.
- Gold fillings are more aesthetically pleasing than silver amalgams.
Disadvantages
- Gold cast fillings can be highly expensive.
- You are going to need to visit your dentist at least two times to have these fillings.
- Having gold cast fillings next to dental amalgam can result in galvanic shock, which refers to pain due to the electric current caused by the interaction between two metals. It doesn't happen quite frequently, though.
Silver amalgam
Advantages
- Silver amalgam can last 10 to 15 years.
- Due to their strength, these fillings can ensure chewing forces.
- These fillings are less expensive than composite fillings.
Disadvantages
- The color of silver amalgam may be similar to that of the tooth decay sometimes. Generally, the color of amalgam is not aesthetically pleasing.
- Your dentist may have to remove a significant part of the healthy tooth to make space for dental amalgam.
- Exposure to hot and cold can result in the dental amalgam to expand or contract, which can increase the risk of cracks and fractures in the tooth.
- Allergic reactions, although rare, can occur due to dental amalgams.
Tooth-colored fillings
Advantages
- The dentist will match the exact shade that of your teeth before placing tooth-colored fillings. These fillings are particularly suitable for the visible teeth.
- These fillings adhere to the tooth at the micro-mechanical level, which results in a stronger bond.
- These fillings are also suitable to repair chips and decays.
Disadvantages
- Tooth-colored fillings are not as durable as other types of fillings.
- Placement of tooth-colored fillings takes some extra time.
- You may have to pay more than one dental visit to have tooth-colored fillings.
- These fillings can be expensive.
