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Dentists use dental fillings to fill the holes or spaces in the decayed or damaged tooth. It is commonly used to treat cavities and prevent further damages. Dental fillings are made of different materials like tooth-colored composite resin, metal fillings, and many more. However, doctors at Smiles First Dental believe that ceramic filling is the best option.
Ceramic Filling For Damaged Teeth
Nowadays, ceramic filling is one of the most popular materials of dental fillings. While there are multiple options available for you, let’s take this opportunity to understand why ceramic fillings are the best.
Here are the reasons why a ceramic filling is better than composite resin and other dental fillings.
They are strong and durable
Whenever we purchase something, our main concern is the strength and durability of the item. After all, we all want to get your money’s worth. And this is what a ceramic filling can offer. For some reason, ceramics are usually combined with plastic material to make them stronger. By doing so, the patient’s teeth get protected against bacterial infection and decay as it effectively seals the cavity.
Ceramic fillings without any other mixture are strong in nature. They are made of state-of-the-art materials that are stronger than any kind of ceramic out there. The application of the ceramic filling will not only fill in the hole or space, but it can also restore the strength of the teeth enabling you to bite and chew like you used to.
Aesthetically beautiful
Your smile’s appearance should also matter. Another great thing about ceramic is that they are absolutely beautiful. They look so natural that people will not be able to tell which of your teeth are natural and which has ceramic fillings.
One more thing, they are not prone to stains and discoloration. The fillings have components that protect them from staining over time. This only means that you will not have to worry about it having a different color than your other teeth.
Ceramic fillings are pretty convenient
Nobody wants the hassle brought by certain restorative treatments in dentistry. But because of modern technology and advanced methods used by dentists, getting a ceramic filling these days is much easier than before.
During the past decades, people used to visit the dental office twice to get dental fillings. Lucky for us, the system has changed. All you need to do now is attend your appointment and go home with a newly filled tooth. No need to go back for adjustments or new procedures, everything can be done in a day.
Add Ons
Several restorative options may be available to use nowadays but the best way to maintain our mouths health is by preventing dental problems to occur in the first place. Proper oral care and regular visits to the dentist are the key components in keeping our teeth and gums healthy.
Other Forms Of Dental Fillings
To be fair, other materials used in dental fillings are strong as well. However, they have their own disadvantages that might bother you. To give you an overview, here are the different kinds of dental fillings, their pros and cons, and their differences.
Silver Amalgam Fillings
This particular type of dental filling is a combination of zinc, mercury, silver, tin, and copper. It’s a widely used filling nowadays due to its strength and durability, not to mention its affordability. Silver amalgams can last for up to 12 years and poses little to no risks upon application. But just like any other fillings, it has its own disadvantages too such as:
- not as pretty as tooth-colored fillings
- too visible and obvious
- can cause a tooth to crack over time
- it expands when in contacts with heat and cold
- the possibility of it corroding and leaking
Composite Fillings
Composite resin is a tooth-colored material that is placed into the cavity while it is still soft. The material will be hardened by a special light known as curing light. One of its advantages is that it can be matched with any shade of the teeth making it look natural. Yet they pose a number of drawbacks like the following:
- they require intensive labor for the dentist
- tooth sensitivity might follow
- their life span ranges from 5 to 10 years only
- they are costly
- the composite resin wears down faster than metal fillings
- if exposed to coffee, tea, or dark foods, there is a probability of staining
- their quality degrades as they get more and more exposed to alcohol
- they are most likely not covered by dental insurance
Glass Ionomer Filling
This particular filling is great for kids as their teeth are still developing and moving. Glass ionomer fillings protect the tooth from decay because of their ability to release fluoride. They are aesthetically pleasing and look natural as well. Sadly, their durability is still questionable as they need to be replaced after a few years. Contact your dentist to make sure about when to replace it.
Disadvantages:
- lacks strength and durability
- tend to crack easily
- do not exactly match the tooth color in comparison with composite resin
Gold Fillings
The gold filling does exist but they are not as popular and in-demand as the others. Mainly because they are highly expensive and the primary material, which is gold, needed for the fillings do not come cheap. If you are considering this, note that they are strong and do not corrode, lastly, they could last for up to 2 decades. Some of the cons of using gold fillings are:
- they are pretty expensive
- it requires more than one dental visit
- could cause a galvanic shock if placed near silver amalgam
- unnatural appearance
To learn more about this procedure, you can go to DentistAlbany.com.au for more information.
