top of page

Fillings

Line drawing of a tooth being drilled.

Quality Dental Fillings for Your Healthy Smile: A Comprehensive Guide

In the world of dentistry, understanding your options for addressing cavities is essential to maintaining a vibrant smile. Cavities, formed by bacterial plaque producing enamel-eroding acids, can lead to tooth decay, jeopardizing oral health and confidence. When untreated, this decay may escalate, necessitating treatments such as crowns, root canals, or even tooth extraction. Swift action from your dentist can address cavities conservatively, restoring both the function and appearance of your teeth with fillings.

Artist rendering of three teeth with different types of fillings.

Choosing the Right Filling for Your Needs

Your selection of restoration hinges on the cavity's location and the extent of tooth structure involvement.

​

Direct Fillings

For small to moderate cavities, direct fillings are immediately applied after removing decay and preparing the tooth. Options like composite resin, dental amalgam, and glass ionomer are popular for their single-visit convenience and effectiveness.

​

Indirect Fillings

Ideal for molars and premolars with larger decay or damage, indirect fillings offer heightened security and durability. Inlays fill within the cusps, while onlays cover the tooth center and cusps. Crafted from molds after cleaning and prep, inlay/onlay materials include composite resin, gold, and porcelain.

Exploring Filling Materials

After identifying the appropriate filling type, material selection focuses on durability, aesthetics, longevity, and cost.

  • ​​Composite Resin: Made from acrylic resin mixed with ceramic particles, composite resin is versatile for both direct and indirect fillings. Its color-matching capability makes it popular for front teeth, preserving natural enamel while being durable. It's ideal for preserving tooth structure, though may be pricier than amalgams and susceptible to staining.

  • Dental Amalgam: A blend of metals including silver, tin, copper, and mercury, amalgam fillings excel in durability, especially for biting surfaces. They're cost-effective and durable, though don't match natural enamel. Discuss concerns about metals with your dentist.

  • Glass Ionomer: Using a silicate glass powder paste, glass ionomer bonds to teeth and releases fluoride over time for cavity prevention. Suited for non-biting surfaces, these fillings aren't as durable as other options.

  • Gold: For indirect fillings, gold's alloy of metals offers extreme durability lasting 20 years or more. Gold fillings, visible like silver amalgams, are a premium choice.

  • Porcelain: Color-matched and translucent, porcelain fillings are ideal for indirect use, mimicking natural teeth appearance and resisting staining and cracking. It's comparable in cost to gold fillings.

For small or moderate cavities, a range of filling choices exist to address functionality, aesthetics, and costs. Consult your dentist to determine the best filling solution, safeguarding your healthy, appealing smile.

bottom of page