Types of fillings
Amalgam
Amalgam is made up of silver, tin, zinc, copper, and mercury. Mercury makes up fifty percent of the mixture. There are two types of amalgam, the traditional non-bonded and the bonded. Amalgam is used for filling in the back teeth. It can last for seven years or more. It is also the least expensive type of restorative material.
Amalgam has several advantages. It is strong and can withstand the forces of chewing. It is less costly than the other filling materials. An amalgam filling can also be completed in one dental visit.
Amalgam has some disadvantages. The most obvious disadvantage is that amalgam does not match the colour of your teeth. The healthy portions of your teeth should be taken out in order to make room that is big enough to put an amalgam filling in it. Amalgam fillings will corrode and tarnish as time passes. This will lead to discoloration where the filling meets the tooth. The traditional non-bonded amalgam filling will not bond or stick to your tooth. The cavity preparation developed by your dentist requires undercuts or ledges that will fill the place. Your dentist may have to remove more of the tooth in order to secure the pocket. Some people are allergic to mercury and are concerned about its effects on humans. Research shows that the amount of mercury exposure from fillings is the same to what people get from other sources in the environment.
Composite Resin
Composite resin is made up of a mixture of plastic and fine glass particles. There are two types of composite resin, the direct and the indirect. Direct fillings are placed by your dentist using a bright blue light that makes the soft material hard. For indirect fillings, your dentist will take an impression of the tooth and the filling is made at the laboratory. The filling is cemented into place during your next visit.
Composite resin is used for small and large fillings especially for the front teeth or the visible parts of the teeth. They can also be used for inlays. Composite resin lasts for about five years. It costs more than amalgam and less than gold.
Using composite resin has several advantages. Your fillings or inlay will blend with the colour of your teeth. Fillings are completed within your visit. Inlays may require two visits. Composite fillings bond directly with the tooth. It makes the tooth stronger than what an amalgam filling can do. Less drilling is involved with amalgam fillings. This is because your dentist does not have to shape the space needed for the filling. The bonding process holds the composite resin inside a tooth. Indirect composite fillings and inlays are cured with heat. This will increase the strength of the material. Composite resin can be used in combination with other materials like glass ionomer. This will provide the benefits of both materials.
Composite resin has its own set of disadvantages. It costs more than amalgam fillings. Even if composite resins have become stronger and more resistant to wear and tear, it is not clear whether they can last as long as amalgam fillings under the pressures of chewing. The composite will shrink when it is placed. This will lead to more cavities in the future especially in areas where the filling isn't making good contact with your tooth. Shrinkage is reduced when your dentist places this kind of filling in thin layers. Composite resin takes more time to place. This is because there are several layers. The increased time and labour contribute to the higher cost of the filling. Indirect fillings and inlays may take two visits to complete. An impression will be made on the first visit while the filling and inlay will be placed on the second visit. In large cavities, composites will not last as long as amalgam fillings.
Cast Gold
Cast gold is made up of gold alloy or gold that is mixed with other metals. It is used for inlays, outlays, and crowns. It can last for seven years or more. This filling costs more than other materials. It is approximately six to ten times more expensive than amalgam.
Cast gold has several advantages. It does not corrode. Some people like the colour of gold better than the silver colour of amalgam. Gold fillings are durable enough to withstand chewing forces.
Cast gold has its own set of disadvantages. You must visit the dentist twice in order to have a gold filling. During your first visit, the dentist will make an impression of your tooth and place a temporary filling. The gold filling will be made based on this impression. It is placed during your second visit. The cost of cast gold is high for obvious reasons. Gold is much more expensive than other materials and the work involved for cast gold is much more detailed than using other filling material. If gold and amalgam fillings are right next to each other in your mouth, an electric current can result from their interaction. With some saliva, these two metals can cause a galvanic shock which can cause a lot of discomfort on your part.
Gold Foil
Gold foil is made from gold. It is used for small fillings in areas where you do not chew hard. It is also used for repairing crowns. Gold foil lasts for about ten to fifteen years. It costs up to four times more than amalgam.
The advantage of gold foil is that it can last for a very long time. On the other hand, there are also some disadvantages of gold foil. Gold foil restoration requires great skill and attention to detail by the dentist. Incorrect placement of the gold foil can damage the pulp and gum tissues. Gold foil is more expensive than amalgam and composite fillings. It may be difficult to find a dentist who offers gold foil as an potion because it doesn't match the colour of your teeth.
Ceramics
Ceramics are made from porcelain. They are used for inlays, onlays, and crowns. They can last for five to seven years. They can cost as little as composite or much more than gold, depending on the filling.
The advantages of ceramics are that they match the colour of your teeth. They are also more resistant to staining and abrasion than the normal composite resin. On the other hand, the disadvantages of ceramics are that they are more brittle than composite resin. The ceramic inlay or onlay has to be large enough to prevent it from breaking. This means that the tooth must be reduced in sixe in order to make room for the extra material.
Glass Ionomer
Glass ionomer is made from acrylic and a component of glass called fluoroaluminosilicate. There are two types of glass ionomer. The traditional filling will set without using a bright light. The resin modified or hybrid composite glass ionomer fillings are stronger than the traditional ones and they require a bright blue light to set.
Glass Ionomer is used to cement inlay fillings. It is also used for fillings in your front teeth, around the necks of your teeth, and for the roots. As filling material, the glass ionomer is used for people with a lot of decay in the part of the tooth that extends below the gum or root caries. Glass ionomer is also used for filling baby teeth and can be used as a liner for other types of fillings. Glass ionomer can last for more than five years and its costs are similar to composite resin.
There are several advantages in using composite resin. First, it matches the colour of your teeth but not as well as composite resin. Resin modified glass ionomer is usually a better match than the traditional glass ionomer. In some cases, no drilling is needed and it makes it an ideal filling for children. Glass ionomers release fluoride which can help protect teeth from decay. Glass ionomer restorations will bond and stick to the tooth. This will prevent any leakage around the filling and will prevent any decay.
There are also some disadvantages for composite resin. The traditional glass ionomer is significantly weaker than composite resin and it is much more likely to wear and fracture. Traditional glass ionomer does not match the colour of your teeth as well as composite resin does. A resin-modified glass ionomer filling needs to be applied in thin layers which will take a lot of time. Every layer must be cured and hardened using a special bright blue light.