Each year, over three million cavities are diagnosed in the United States. If you or your child have a cavity, you aren’t alone. Cavities are the top reason children miss school, and approximately 90% of adults have had a cavity at some point in their life.
If your cavity is discovered early enough, you can enlist a dental service to get a filling. You will also learn more about the different types of fillings available.
The Procedure to Place a Dental Filling
When your local dentist places a filling, the first step is to place a local anesthetic to numb the area around your tooth to eliminate or reduce pain.
At this point, the tooth is isolated, and a guard is placed to prevent it from getting wet. A tool is then used to remove the decayed part of the tooth. Some of the tools used include drills, lasers, or abrasion instruments, depending on where the cavity is located.
After the decay is removed, the tooth is prepared for the filling. It is cleaned to remove bacteria, which could cause problems in the future. The filling material is applied, and then a light is used to cure it.
Different Types of Filling Materials
You will find your dentist offers several material types to fill your cavity. Some of the most common materials include:
Silver or Amalgam
This filling has been used for more than 100 years and is a mix of metals, such as zinc, silver, copper, tin, and mercury. It’s long-lasting, durable, and one of the most affordable filling materials. Since they have a dark, metal color, these fillings can be seen in the mouth, so tooth-colored fillings are now used.
Gold
Gold is a strong filling material. While gold fillings typically last longer than others, they are also the most expensive option. In addition to the cost, some drawbacks include how viable they are, the possibility of galvanic shock, and the fact that insurance companies won’t pay for them.
Composite
Composite filling material is made from acrylic resin and powdered glass. These are popular because they can easily match your tooth’s color. These are inconspicuous, especially for your front teeth.
A drawback of composite fillings is that they aren’t as durable as the metal ones, and they may chip. However, since they bond to the tooth, they also provide support that other fillings don’t. They don’t require much of the tooth to be worn down either.
Ceramic or Porcelain
If you want a natural appearance, porcelain fillings are a good option. However, these are also more fragile and expensive than metal filings. Usually, they require you to go to the dentist more than once because they are made in a lab and then sent to your dentist for placement.
Glass Lonomer or Resin
For very small areas of decay, this material is best. The material is also used for cavities under the gumline. No dentist will use these on the chewing surface of a tooth, as they are quite delicate.
Handling a Cavity
If your dentist tells you that you or your child has a cavity, there’s no reason to worry. You have several filling options that will restore function and appearance to your tooth.
