Dental Fillings: Which Type is Best for You?

Perhaps you just found out at your latest visit that you have a new cavity. Maybe your dentist has told you that your old filling has worn out and you need a replacement. Or maybe you have a dull toothache that just hasn’t been diagnosed yet. Whatever the case, you need to know your options when it comes to fillings in Studio City.

Many people have cavities; not all have been treated for them. Just look at the stats: 92 percent of adults between the ages of 20 and 64 experience cavities in their permanent teeth; 26 percent of them have untreated decay. About 42 percent of children ages 2 to 11 experience cavities in their primary teeth but 23 percent of those cases are untreated.

Fillings are necessary for two reasons: they “fill” the space in your tooth where the decay has been removed, and they form a protective barrier against further invasion of bacteria. If you’ve been told you need a filling, you may wonder which type you should get. There are a few options you can choose from.

Let’s go over the types of fillings and the pros and cons of each.

Cast Gold

Benefits

• Durable: Able to last up to 15 years and will not corrode.
• Strong composition: Can stand up to heavy chewing forces.
• Aesthetics: Most people prefer the appearance of gold to silver amalgam.

Drawbacks

• Expensive: Can cost up to 10 times more than silver.
• Requires two or more office visits to apply.
• Galvanic shock: When gold fillings are placed near silver ones, a sharp pain may result due to the interaction of metal and saliva.

Silver Amalgam

Benefits

• Durable: Can last up to 15 years.
• High strength: Can stand up to chewing forces.
• Not as costly as composite fillings.

Drawbacks

1. Aesthetics: Silver doesn’t match the natural color of your teeth, standing out more than natural colors.
2. Healthy parts of the tooth have to be removed to make way for a large enough space to contain the filling.
3. Discoloration: Can result in a grayish tint to the surrounding tooth structure over the years.
4. Cracks: Amalgam material can contract and expand, leading to fractures.
5. Allergic reactions: Some people (1% of the population) can have allergic reactions to the mercury contained in silver.

Tooth-Colored Composites

Benefits

1. The shade of the filling can be matched to the other teeth.
2. Chemically bonded to the tooth structure for better support.
3. Can fix chipped, worn or broken teeth.
4. Fewer parts of the tooth structure need to be removed to accommodate for the filling than silver.

Drawbacks

1. These don’t last as long as other types — only about five years.
2. The process takes 20 minutes longer than other types to apply.
3. Chipping can happen.
4. They cost more than twice that of amalgam fillings.

Contact Studio City Dental

If you suspect you have a cavity, schedule an appointment with Studio City Dental today at 818-762-2977. We can recommend the best course of action and go over the materials we offer for fillings in Studio City. Our process goes something like this:

• We’ll give you a local anesthetic to keep discomfort at bay.
• We will use an abrasion instrument, a laser or a drill to remove the decayed portion of the tooth.
• Once the decayed area is removed, we will thoroughly clean out the cavity.
• We will then apply the tooth colored filling and harden it with a light. Lastly, we will trim off any extra filling and polish the finished tooth.