Dental fillings are probably the first dental procedure a person undergoes. As their name suggests, they fill a cavity and restore the tooth. If you have tooth decay, a dentist near you will remove the infected tissue, and fill it. It will be as if nothing ever happened.
Thanks to modern dentistry, dental fillings can be
tooth-colored for a natural look. Nobody will notice that you had a cavity; in
fact, after a while, you probably won’t distinguish where the filling was
placed.
But this was not always the case; before modern
dentistry, fillings were not as aesthetic. Let’s go back in time to see how
they evolved.
The oldest filling goes back around 13.000 years, and
it was made of a black viscous mixture of hydrocarbons, known as Bitumen. You
may be familiarized with it because it is now used to asphalt roads and
roofing.
More recently, in the 1900s, amalgams were the most
popular filling. Sure, they were not tooth-colored, and the mercury was not
that bonded, but it was the dental
restorative material of choice due to its low cost, ease of application,
strength, and durability.
Later on, fillings were completely transformed, thinking of what was
best for the patient. Amalgams, for example, were chemically bonded to reduce
the concentration of mercury and avoid damaging people’s health. Thanks to
modern dentistry, dental fillings in Edmonton are much safer and less invasive.
At present, people prefer dental fillings that match their adjacent
teeth color and not so much the silver ones; however, we will discuss all of
them so you can have better criteria if you are looking for dental fillings near you.
Amalgam
It is a metal filling that contains a mixture of copper, tin, silver,
and zinc. It also contains mercury, which is why some people get concerned
about its usage in dentistry; however, as we mentioned above, they are now
better bonded to other metals to reduce the amount of mercury.
Amalgams are very resistant and inexpensive. They are
not aesthetic, but they are a good option if you want a budget-friendly option.
Composite
These don’t have the long durability of amalgams, but they
can be tooth-colored; hence, patients like that they can have a natural look
after the trip to the dentist. On the downside, if the cavity is extremely
large, they won’t work because they cannot withstand severe occlusal forces.
Composite fillings consist of a mixture of acrylic
resin and powdered glass.
Gold
Yes, gold can be used to fill a dental cavity. It is a
very expensive material, and our dentist in Edmonton will need more than one
appointment to place it, but it is still an option in modern dentistry. On the
plus side, it can last up to two decades.
Porcelain
It is a durable material that can also be
tooth-colored for a natural look. It is resistant and not as expensive as gold.
However, it is still pricey, but it’s worth the investment if you don’t have
enough tooth structure for a composite filling.
Resin
They are made of a ceramic and plastic compound, and they are known as
white fillings because they mimic the appearance of your natural teeth.
Nowadays, they are the most popular fillings to restore a small to a moderate
cavity.
No one solution fits all when it comes to dental
fillings. It will depend on your wants and needs, and how big or small the
cavity is. Along with our specialists, you will determine the best option for
you.
