Dental Filling Material – What Is The Best For You?

You’re probably like most people in that you don’t give your dental fillings much thought until one has to be changed. However, it’s imperative that you give careful thought to the material utilised for tooth fillings.

There are a variety of materials that can be used for dental fillings, and each has its own benefits and drawbacks. Here is a look at the different types of dental filling materials and what you need to know about them.

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What Is The Purpose Of Fillings?

Tooth fillings used to repair broken, decaying, chipped, fractured, or cracked teeth Teeth that have worn down from grinding can also be restored with fillings.

What Kinds Of Fillings Are There?

Today, a number of different dental fillers are on the market. Examples of this are

• Gold
• Porcelain
• Compounds containing silver and mercury (a combination of tin, zinc, mercury, and copper)
• Resin composite (a tooth coloured restoration)
• Ionomer glass

When you visit the dentist for an evaluation, they will advise you on which material is best for your needs. Composite resin restorations are shown to be very successful by dentists for several restorations.

What Happens After A Filling?

First, your dentist will need to clean out and remove any decay from your tooth before they can fill it. A local anaesthetic will be injected before any work is done on the tooth, however, in case it is painful.

The decaying portion of your tooth will be removed so when anaesthetic has taken effect. The cavity would be cleaned out once the dentist is sure that all of the decay has indeed been removed. Glasses ionomer or composite material may need to be used as a barrier between the cavity and the nerve if the nerve is nearby.

The dental filling If you get a composite resin filling, the material will be stacked in stages. Dental fillings are typically layered and then cured under a light by the dentist.

If you want it to look and feel natural in your mouth, your dentist will trim it down to size after it sets.

Composite Filling Material

Composite fillings aconsist of powdered ceramic particles such as glass, silica, quartz, or other ceramics bound together with a resin. They’re a favourite among patients because of how well they blend in with natural teeth, making them perfect for usage at the front of the mouth.

When Can They Be Put To Use?

White fillings can be placed in either the or the front back teeth and serve a variety of purposes, including:

• Teeth that are chipped or cracked
• teeth wear
• Filling up the Gap Between Two Teeth
• Cracked tooth
• teeth decay

Small to moderate fillings, which are subjected to stresses such as chewing, benefit greatly from their resistance to fracture. Composite fillings are glued to the tooth, which is one of its key advantages.

This not only strengthens the tooth, but also closes the space at its perimeter, where bacteria can thrive and cause decay. They won’t last forever, but they’ll keep your smile looking great for years to come.

Composite fillings are typically placed in only one visit to the dentist. Local anaesthetic will be used to numb dental area all around tooth before the decay is removed.

After the tooth is thoroughly cleansed and prepped, a dental filling will be put. This is a crucial time for the area to be kept dry. After the composite filler has been formed and placed, it is cured, or set, using a bright light. Once the tooth is filled and polished, it will look and operate just like your natural tooth did before.

Don’t freak out if you have heightened temperature sensations after getting a composite filling. Once your tooth has adjusted to the new filling, this is to be expected and should go away.

The Advantages Of Tooth-Colored Fillings

1. A Filler That Appears Natural

When done by an experienced dentist, tooth-colored fillings, which are made of acrylic resin & powdered glass, seem completely natural and fit in with the rest of your teeth. Composite fillings are ideal for repairing front teeth since they blend in naturally.

When a composite resin filling is color-matched to the patient’s teeth, no one will even know they are there.

2. Suitable For A Wide Range Of Applications

Repairing damaged, cracked, or chipped teeth, or filling up rotting portions of teeth, are all possible using tooth-colored fillings. Because of this, composite resin is an adaptable restoration medium.

Your filling can be shaped and polished to fit perfectly in your mouth during your dental appointment. Composite resin also allows for a great lot of customization, making it an excellent choice for items of varying sizes and shapes.

3. Strong Bonds For Increased Support

Composite resin is an extremely reliable substance for restoring and repairing teeth due to its ability to form strong bonds with natural tooth structure.

4. They Are Free Of Metals.

White tooth fillings are a safer alternative for amalgam fillings for patients who choose a metal-free restoration.

Moreover, compared to amalgam fillings, less of your dentition may need to be removed in order to accommodate tooth-colored fillings.

What Do You Need To Know About Tooth-Colored Fillings?

With proper care and annual dental checkups, a filling made of composite resin can endure for as long as ten years. In contrast, amalgams can endure for up to 15 years and could be easier to place while seated. Look no further, Bayside Dentists offers the best dental services.

Ionomer Glass Fillings

In cases when there is decay below the gum or in the tooth roots, glass ionomer fillings are preferable to composite fillings because they are more durable.

A strong connection between composite resins and tooth enamel is typically required for successful treatment. Because of this, resins tend to form a weak bond with the surfaces of roots and eventually fail. However, glass ionomer is bonded chemically and doesn’t use the same bonding mechanisms as resin fillings. Further, the fluoride released by glass ionomers promotes root health and prevents decay.

Even deeper restorations, or those that are close to a pulp or nerve, can benefit from having glass ionomer implanted beneath them. It separates the composite filling from the pulp while allowing fluoride to seep through.

1. Inlays And Onlays In Gold

These are the most expensive of all dental filling materials but has the advantage of lasting the longest and being the strongest durable material that will last years. Moreover, it is stain- and tarnish-resistant and incredibly durable.

2. Porcelain Inlays

Porcelain inlays are a service that some dentists are happy to provide for their clientele. CEREC CAD/CAM digital media is used to design and fabricate inlays that are custom-fit to the patient’s teeth and look completely natural. Patients may benefit from inlays & onlays in as little as one visit if the laboratory services are available on-site. Porcelain may be made to closely resemble the colour of your natural teeth, and it is both durable and long-lasting. But the cost is typically higher than that of comparable dental filling material.

What Exactly Are Amalgam Fillings?

Silver fillings, or amalgam, are a composite material mostly composed of mercury (50%) and silver (35%), with smaller amounts of tin (9%) and copper (6%), and even trace amounts of zinc (0.01%) present. About 150 years ago, this particular dental filling substance was first developed, and it quickly gained widespread acceptance because

• Cost-effectiveness in use, and
• The average lifespan of a filling is 15-20 years.

Today, tooth-colored filling materials are used more frequently than amalgam was previously due to their effectiveness in blending in with natural tooth structure. Modern dental filling materials are excellent, but they have their limitations.

Amalgam is less expensive than some other materials and lasts longer, especially in teeth that are exposed to pressure and wear, like the molars or the rear teeth we are using for chewing.

What Is The Safety Of Amalgam?

Recent years have seen much debate concerning the use of dental amalgam. This is because, when heated, dental amalgam emits a vapour containing trace amounts of mercury, which can be breathed and taken by the lungs. Amalgam tooth fillings, on the other hand, have been found to be completely safe for everyone over the age of six, thanks to a thorough examination of all available scientific evidence.

Silver Fillings And Other Concerns In Less-Toxic Dentistry

1. Silver Fillings

Amalgam, or silver, fillings, which dentists have used for almost a century and which are roughly 50% mercury and which contain primarily other metals like as silver, copper, tin, & zinc as fillers.

In terms of dental restorations, the American Dental Association (ADA) recommends amalgam due to the material’s durability, ease of use, great resistance to wear, and low cost. The American Dental Association (ADA) further argues that mercury fillings pose no health risk since they produce such little amounts as mercury vapour, which has never been shown to do any harm.

More and more dentists are beginning to disagree. The American Dental Association (ADA) stresses the importance of taking measures when working with amalgam due to the substance’s toxicity both during and after implantation or removal. Once in a person’s mouth, there’s no need for amalgamation to suddenly become non-toxic. There is little debate about the fact that mercury vapour is released from amalgam fillings when one does normal, everyday activities such as brushing one’s teeth, eating, or drinking hot drinks.

The American Dental Association (ADA) recognises that one to three milligrams of mercury a day may be released from amalgam fillings due to biting and grinding of teeth. However, according to the WHO, the typical daily intake is between 3 and 17 micrograms.

There is also no denying the toxicity of mercury: It has been found that exposure to “high amounts” of mercury can cause irreversible harm to the brain, kidneys, and a growing foetus, as reported by the Administration for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. (ATSDR).

The amount of mercury exposure needed to trigger these consequences, and how much of it is likely to occur through fillings, is still up for debate. Advocates of amalgam fillings argue that the mercury discharged is well below the threshold for harm. However, there are many who argue that the safety of amalgam hasn’t been shown via scientific study alone.

The International Academy for Oral Medicine and Toxicology’s executive director says this problem isn’t getting enough attention in the dental community (IAOMT). Before writing a prescription, doctors carefully consider the drug’s toxicological profile. However, many dentists remain oblivious to the topic of mercury vapour absorption when asked about amalgam fillings. The American Dental Association’s (ADA) assurances that fillings are safe are simply accepted without further investigation.

Consider the impact on the planet if the possible health risks associated with amalgam fillings were not enough to keep you cautious. The scientific community is in agreement that mercury should be eliminated from the natural world.

Regrettably, many dentists add to the widespread problem of mercury contamination in rivers by neglecting to extract mercury form their wastewater and so by incinerating dental debris that contains mercury, releasing that chemical into the atmosphere. You can help cut down on mercury pollution from the dental industry by encouraging your dentist to use best management practises for mercury waste disposal, a recommendation shared by the American Dental Association.

Fortunately, just 25% of dentists worldwide still use mercury fillings. There are a lot of people who see the environmental, health, and financial benefits of reducing mercury consumption.

2. Fluoride

Since the 1940s, fluoride has been put into municipal water systems to reduce the incidence of tooth decay. While a large number of dentists believe that fluoridated water has significantly reduced the prevalence of cavities in the community, a reexamination of the individual research on fluoride’s effects suggests that it may not be as helpful as was previously thought.

There is no advantage to be gained by drinking fluoride, according to studies published by the Journal of Dental Research. Additionally, several studies have shown that fluoride may have negative health effects.

The goal is to avoid getting too much fluoride, which is typically regarded safe at lower amounts. National Toxicology Program statistics, however, suggest fluoride may cause cancer.

Another study indicated that even at the low level of one part per million, which is within the recommended range, there was “a tiny but substantial increase” in the risk of bone fracture among elderly men and women subjected to artificial fluoridation. In spite of the lack of conclusive evidence linking fluoridated water to cancer or hip fractures, some scientists are warning against its use and advocating for its removal from public water supplies.

3. Sealants

Advocacy groups are also raising questions about the safety of sealants. Although they protect the back teeth from decay, sealants have come under question because of the possibility that they may release bisphenol-A (BPA), a hormone disruptor, into the body. There is evidence that endocrine disrupting chemicals contribute to higher rates of human cancer and a decline in male fertility.

Environmental Health Perspectives published a research in 1996 that indicated BPA leached into patients’ saliva quickly after applying dental sealants, sparking the dispute.

In light of this research, the ADA conducted tests on the brands of sealants that bear its seal of acquiescence and found that ten of them leached no perceptible BPA; they contacted the supplier of the remaining brand, who subsequently improved their quality control measures, and their product once again leached no detectable BPA. We have an exclusive list of Melbourne’s most modern and affordable dental clinic for your dental needs.

Experts disagree on whether or not BPA can be absorbed at unsafe amounts via saliva, and they also disagree on whether types of sealants leach BPA.

What Is The Healthiest Filling Material?

While studies on the safety of amalgam fillings tooth-colored fillings are a safe, natural, and effective material for repairing teeth, yet the results of these studies are inconclusive.

Amalgam fillings are the most commonly used dental filling material because of their low cost. However, they can contain as much as 50% mercury.

As of right now, there is no solid evidence that any dental filling material, including amalgam, is dangerous to humans. Patients should, however, know about all their dental choices so that they can make an educated decision with the assistance of their dentist.

This will depend on whether the teeth in question are primary or permanent, as well as whether or not the individual has an allergy to mercury or any of the other ingredients in dental restorations. Pregnancy is another situation where caution is required.

In the end, the best filler is one that doesn’t need to be there.

You can lower the risk of dental cavities by;

• It is recommended to use fluoride toothpaste and brush your teeth twice a day.
• Every day, you should floss your teeth.
• Maintaining a healthy weight can be achieved by eating a variety of nutritious foods.
• Maintaining routine dental checkups

How To Care for Tooth-Colored Fillings

Keep in mind that composite resin is quickly discoloured, so regular brushing and flossing are necessary to keep your teeth looking their best.

Flossing once a day and brushing twice a day will maintain your teeth and gums healthy and your mouth cavity-free. If you’re thinking about switching from a manual to an automatic toothbrush, you should read up on the best Oral B electric toothbrush.

The early detection of decay through regular dental examinations and cleanings increases the likelihood that you won’t require any more restoration work in the near future.

You may require a filling if you have discomfort or sensitivity while biting, consuming sugar, or drinking cold or hot beverages.

Conclusion

Tooth fillings are used to repair broken, decaying, chipped, fractured, or cracked teeth. There are a variety of materials that can be used for dental fillings, and each has its own benefits and drawbacks. Here is a look at the different types of dental filling materials and what you need to know about them. Composite fillings are glued to the tooth, which is one of its key advantages. They won’t last forever, but they’ll keep your smile looking great for years to come.

Tooth-colored fillings, which are made of acrylic resin & powdered glass, fit in with the rest of your teeth. White tooth fillings are a safer alternative for amalgam fillings for patients who choose a metal-free restoration. Glass ionomer is bonded chemically and doesn’t use the same bonding mechanisms as resin fillings. Porcelain inlays are made to closely resemble the colour of your natural teeth, and it is both durable and long-lasting. Silver fillings, or amalgam, are a composite material mostly composed of mercury (50%) and silver (35%).

When heated, dental amalgam emits a vapour containing trace amounts of mercury, which can be breathed and taken by the lungs. Amalgam tooth fillings have been found to be completely safe for everyone over the age of six. One to three milligrams of mercury a day may be released from amalgam fillings due to biting and grinding of teeth. The typical daily intake is between 3 and 17 micrograms. Exposure to “high amounts” of mercury can cause irreversible harm to the brain, kidneys, and a growing foetus.

There is no advantage to be gained by drinking fluoride, according to studies published by the Journal of Dental Research. The goal is to avoid getting too much fluoride, which is typically regarded safe at lower amounts. National Toxicology Program statistics suggest fluoride may cause cancer. Some scientists are warning against its use and advocating for its removal. There is no solid evidence that any dental filling material, including amalgam, is dangerous to humans.

Patients should, however, know about all their dental choices so they can make an educated decision with the assistance of their dentist. You can lower the risk of dental cavities by brushing twice a day and flossing once a day.

Content Summary:

• You’re probably like most people in that you don’t give your dental fillings much thought until one has to be changed.
• However, it’s imperative that you give careful thought to the material utilised for tooth fillings.
• There are a variety of materials that can be used for dental fillings, and each has its own benefits and drawbacks.
• Here is a look at the different types of dental filling materials and what you need to know about them.
• Today, a number of different dental fillers are on the market.
• Gold Porcelain Compounds containing silver and mercury (a combination of tin, zinc, mercury, and copper) Resin composite (a tooth coloured restoration) Ionomer glass When you visit the dentist for an evaluation, they will advise you on which material is best for your needs.
• First, your dentist will need to clean out and remove any decay from your tooth before they can fill it.
• A local anaesthetic will be injected before any work is done on the tooth, however, in case it is painful.
• Glass ionomer or composite material may need to be used as a barrier between the cavity and the nerve if the nerve is nearby.
• The dental filling If you get a composite resin filling, the material will be stacked in stages.
• Dental fillings are typically layered and then cured under a light by the dentist.
• If you want it to look and feel natural in your mouth, your dentist will trim it down to size after it sets.
• Composite fillings aconsist of powdered ceramic particles such as glass, silica, quartz, or other ceramics bound together with a resin.
• White fillings can be placed in either the or the front back teeth and serve a variety of purposes, including:Teeth that are chipped or cracked teeth wear
• Small to moderate fillings, which are subjected to stresses such as chewing, benefit greatly from their resistance to fracture.
• Composite fillings are glued to the tooth, which is one of its key advantages.
• They won’t last forever, but they’ll keep your smile looking great for years to come.
• Composite fillings are typically placed in only one visit to the dentist.
• Local anaesthetic will be used to numb dental areas all around the tooth before the decay is removed.
• After the tooth is thoroughly cleansed and prepped, a dental filling will be put.
• This is a crucial time for the area to be kept dry.
• After the composite filler has been formed and placed, it is cured, or set, using a bright light.
• Once the tooth is filled and polished, it will look and operate just like your natural tooth did before.
• Don’t freak out if you have heightened temperature sensations after getting a composite filling.
• Once your tooth has adjusted to the new filling, this is to be expected and should go away.
• When done by an experienced dentist, tooth-colored fillings, which are made of acrylic resin & powdered glass, seem completely natural and fit in with the rest of your teeth.
• Composite fillings are ideal for repairing front teeth since they blend in naturally.
• When a composite resin filling is color-matched to the patient’s teeth, no one will even know they are there.
• Repairing damaged, cracked, or chipped teeth, or filling up rotting portions of teeth, are all possible using tooth-colored fillings.
• Because of this, composite resin is an adaptable restoration medium.
• Your filling can be shaped and polished to fit perfectly in your mouth during your dental appointment.
• White tooth fillings are a safer alternative for amalgam fillings for patients who choose a metal-free restoration.
• Moreover, compared to amalgam fillings, less of your dentition may need to be removed in order to accommodate tooth-coloured fillings.
• With proper care and annual dental checkups, a filling made of composite resin can endure for as long as ten years.
• In contrast, amalgams can endure for up to 15 years and could be easier to place while seated.
• In cases when there is decay below the gum or in the tooth roots, glass ionomer fillings are preferable to composite fillings because they are more durable.
• A strong connection between composite resins and tooth enamel is typically required for successful treatment.
• However, glass ionomer is bonded chemically and doesn’t use the same bonding mechanisms as resin fillings.
• Even deeper restorations, or those that are close to a pulp or nerve, can benefit from having glass ionomer implanted beneath them.
• These are the most expensive of all dental filling materials but has the advantage of lasting the longest and being the strongest durable material that will last years.
• Porcelain inlays are a service that some dentists are happy to provide for their clientele.
• CEREC CAD/CAM digital media is used to design and fabricate inlays that are custom-fit to the patient’s teeth and look completely natural.
• Patients may benefit from inlays & onlays in as little as one visit if the laboratory services are available on-site.
• Porcelain may be made to closely resemble the colour of your natural teeth, and it is both durable and long-lasting.
• Silver fillings, or amalgam, are a composite material mostly composed of mercury (50%) and silver (35%), with smaller amounts of tin (9%) and copper (6%), and even trace amounts of zinc (0.01%) present.
• About 150 years ago, this particular dental filling substance was first developed, and it quickly gained widespread acceptance becauseCost-effectiveness in use, and The average lifespan of a filling is 15-20 years.
• Today, tooth-colored filling materials are used more frequently than amalgam was previously due to their effectiveness in blending in with natural tooth structure.
• Modern dental filling materials are excellent, but they have their limitations.
• Amalgam is less expensive than some other materials and lasts longer, especially in teeth that are exposed to pressure and wear, like the molars or the rear teeth we are using for chewing.
• Recent years have seen much debate concerning the use of dental amalgam.
• This is because, when heated, dental amalgam emits a vapour containing trace amounts of mercury, which can be breathed and taken by the lungs.
• Amalgam tooth fillings, on the other hand, have been found to be completely safe for everyone over the age of six, thanks to a thorough examination of all available scientific evidence.
• Silver Fillings Amalgam, or silver fillings, which dentists have used for almost a century and which are roughly 50% mercury and which contain primarily other metals like silver, copper, tin, & zinc as fillers.
• In terms of dental restorations, the American Dental Association (ADA) recommends amalgam due to the material’s durability, ease of use, great resistance to wear, and low cost.
• The American Dental Association (ADA) further argues that mercury fillings pose no health risk since they produce such little amounts as mercury vapour, which has never been shown to do any harm.
• More and more dentists are beginning to disagree.
• The American Dental Association (ADA) stresses the importance of taking measures when working with amalgam due to the substance’s toxicity both during and after implantation or removal.
• The American Dental Association (ADA) recognises that one to three milligrams of mercury a day may be released from amalgam fillings due to biting and grinding of teeth.
• However, according to the WHO, the typical daily intake is between 3 and 17 micrograms.
• There is also no denying the toxicity of mercury: It has been found that exposure to “high amounts” of mercury can cause irreversible harm to the brain, kidneys, and a growing foetus, as reported by the Administration for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry.
• The amount of mercury exposure needed to trigger these consequences, and how much of it is likely to occur through fillings, is still up for debate.
• Advocates of amalgam fillings argue that the mercury discharged is well below the threshold for harm.
• However, there are many who argue that the safety of amalgam hasn’t been shown via scientific study alone.
• The International Academy for Oral Medicine and Toxicology’s executive director says this problem isn’t getting enough attention in the dental community (IAOMT).
• Before writing a prescription, doctors carefully consider the drug’s toxicological profile.
• However, many dentists remain oblivious to the topic of mercury vapour absorption when asked about amalgam fillings.
• The American Dental Association’s (ADA) assurances that fillings are safe are simply accepted without further investigation.
• Consider the impact on the planet if the possible health risks associated with amalgam fillings were not enough to keep you cautious.
• The scientific community is in agreement that mercury should be eliminated from the natural world.
• Regrettably, many dentists add to the widespread problem of mercury contamination in rivers by neglecting to extract mercury form their wastewater and so by incinerating dental debris that contains mercury, releasing that chemical into the atmosphere.
• You can help cut down on mercury pollution from the dental industry by encouraging your dentist to use best management practises for mercury waste disposal, a recommendation shared by the American Dental Association.
• Fortunately, just 25% of dentists worldwide still use mercury fillings.
• There are a lot of people who see the environmental, health, and financial benefits of reducing mercury consumption.
• Fluoride Since the 1940s, fluoride has been put into municipal water systems to reduce the incidence of tooth decay.
• While a large number of dentists believe that fluoridated water has significantly reduced the prevalence of cavities in the community, a reexamination of the individual research on fluoride’s effects suggests that it may not be as helpful as was previously thought.
• There is no advantage to be gained by drinking fluoride, according to studies published by the Journal of Dental Research.
• Additionally, several studies have shown that fluoride may have negative health effects.
• The goal is to avoid getting too much fluoride, which is typically regarded as safe at lower amounts.
• National Toxicology Program statistics, however, suggest fluoride may cause cancer.
• In spite of the lack of conclusive evidence linking fluoridated water to cancer or hip fractures, some scientists are warning against its use and advocating for its removal from public water supplies.
• Sealants Advocacy groups are also raising questions about the safety of sealants.
• Although they protect the back teeth from decay, sealants have come under question because of the possibility that they may release bisphenol-A (BPA), a hormone disruptor, into the body.
• There is evidence that endocrine disrupting chemicals contribute to higher rates of human cancer and a decline in male fertility.
• Environmental Health Perspectives published a research in 1996 that indicated BPA leached into patients’ saliva quickly after applying dental sealants, sparking the dispute.
• While studies on the safety of amalgam fillings tooth-coloured fillings are a safe, natural, and effective material for repairing teeth, yet the results of these studies are inconclusive.
• Amalgam fillings are the most commonly used dental filling material because of their low cost.
• However, they can contain as much as 50% mercury.
• As of right now, there is no solid evidence that any dental filling material, including amalgam, is dangerous to humans.
• Patients should, however, know about all their dental choices so that they can make an educated decision with the assistance of their dentist.
• This will depend on whether the teeth in question are primary or permanent, as well as whether or not the individual has an allergy to mercury or any of the other ingredients in dental restorations.
• Pregnancy is another situation where caution is required.
• In the end, the best filler is one that doesn’t need to be there.
• You can lower the risk of dental cavities by;It is recommended to use fluoride toothpaste and brush your teeth twice a day.
• Every day, you should floss your teeth.
• Maintaining a healthy weight can be achieved by eating a variety of nutritious foods.
• Maintaining routine dental checkups How To Care for Tooth-Colored Fillings dentists treat patients teeth Keep in mind that composite resin is quickly discoloured, so regular brushing and flossing are necessary to keep your teeth looking their best.
• Flossing once a day and brushing twice a day will maintain your teeth and gums healthy and your mouth cavity-free.
• If you’re thinking about switching from a manual to an automatic toothbrush, you should read up on the best Oral B electric toothbrush.
• The early detection of decay through regular dental examinations and cleanings increases the likelihood that you won’t require any more restoration work in the near future.
• You may require a filling if you have discomfort or sensitivity while biting, consuming sugar, or drinking cold or hot beverages.

Frequently Asked Questions About Dental Fillings

Are white fillings better?

Modern white fillings are much stronger than those from several years ago. They are also bonded to the tooth to effectively seal the margin. Amalgam fillings just plug the hole and do not seal the margins or reinforce teeth. They are, however, very strong and a well-placed amalgam filling can last for several years.

Why do dentists use white fillings?

White fillings are appealing especially because they are the same colour as the teeth and therefor basically unnoticeable. Since they attach right to the tooth, patients with a broken tooth can receive a white filling to restore the tooth’s shape, which may not be an option with silver fillings.

Do white fillings cost more?

There is no huge difference in the time it takes to place either filling although the white fillings may take just a few minutes longer to place. Whilst white fillings used to be the more expensive option, these days both white and silver fillings tend to cost around the same price.

What is the safest dental filling material?

Ceramics and Porcelain.

Ceramic fillings are more resistant to stains and abrasions. They do not run the risk of developing micro cracks, as sometimes happens with amalgams, which can lead to further decay with the sealed tooth.

What is the least toxic dental filling?

Porcelain

Porcelain is durable, non-toxic and, yes, biocompatible. It naturally adheres to your DNA. Porcelain forms an actual bond with your body that is five times stronger than your natural teeth. It’s the perfect material for fillings, crowns and veneers.