A GUIDE TO FILLINGS
The world of modern dentistry presents you with several choices as to the materials used for new or replacement fillings. To help you make a more informed decision, we've put together the information on this web page.
The materials that we use today are much more aesthetic (better-looking) than some of the older materials. The table below presents your choices in order of strength, longevity, and investment. Keep in mind that the stronger materials last longer and while the initial investment is more, they don't need replacement as often. So, in the long run, they may cost less. The lifespan of any filling depends in large part upon the quality of your regular home dental care regimen.
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| Amalgam Fillings, Silver Fillings | Good
| These direct-placed, one-appointment fillings are silver in color and contain mercury. Recommended for back teeth. |
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Composite, Tooth-Colored Fillings | Good
| These direct-placed, one-appointment fillings are shaded to match the tooth and are actually bonded to the tooth for added strength. This is the best choice for small back fillings. This is a good choice for medium back fillings. For small and medium front fillings, this is the best choice. |
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| Lab-Processed, Tooth-Colored Fillings | Better | These two-appointment fillings involve making a mold of your teeth and placing a temporary filling. A dental lab then custom makes the filling to fit your tooth. They are generally heat- and/or pressure-cured for added strength. Usually, they are made of porcelain or a porcelain-like material. These fillings are more aesthetic than the direct placed fillings, and much stronger. |
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| Lab-Processed Gold Fillings | Best | The strongest and most durable material available to us today to place as fillings in teeth is gold. Gold is much more aesthetic than the old silver fillings because the gold does not stain the teeth. Gold is also very kind to the teeth biting against it. Some people may not care for the looks of a gold filling, while others want what is the most durable. You may want to place these in the teeth that don't show. |
As you can see, you have several choices of materials to fill your teeth. All of
them work, but some work better than others. Just like you can get a good pair
of shoes, or a cheaper pair of shoes, both will work, but the good pair will last
longer. Over time, the good pair may cost less because you don't have to pay to
replace them over and over again. If you have any questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to call us: we're
here to help. The choice is yours!
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