How Tooth-colored Fillings Offer a Perfect Alternative to Dental Amalgam

November 1, 2021

Do you suspect you have a cavity in one of your teeth? Dental cavities are the starting point of most of the damage that happens to natural teeth. As soon as a cavity forms on a tooth, it begins to erode the enamel and dentin. After a while, the external structure of your tooth is damaged, creating an entry point to the inside layers. Soon enough, you will start having various oral issues like toothaches, abscessed teeth, bad breath, gum infection, to mention a few, which can be stopped by getting a tooth colored dental filling.

What Are Dental Fillings?

They are materials used in restorative dentistry to repair teeth. Ideally, fillings feature various types of dental materials that can be manipulated to block up any holes formed on teeth. Dental filling procedures are the most common restorative procedures that dentists in Encinitas, CA, perform to treat dental cavities. Should you visit your dentist for filling replacements in Encinitas early enough, you can save your teeth from progressed dental decay that has far more consequences than a typical tooth cavity.

What Types of Fillings Are Used in Dentistry?

Dental fillings are mostly grouped into two main categories, which are metal and non-metal fillings. Metal tooth fillings include gold fillings and silver fillings. Of the two, silver fillings, also known as amalgams, are the most common. The reason is that they are more affordable than gold fillings.

Regarding non-metal fillings, you can either get porcelain fillings or composite fillings. Both these fillings are tooth-colored, which means they will have aesthetic advantages to your smile. Of the two, composites are used more often because they are relatively inexpensive compared to porcelain or ceramic fillings. However, some people will prefer porcelain fillings because they are sturdier and more durable than composite fillings, which easily break and need to be restored after about five years.

Amalgam Fillings vs. Tooth-colored Fillings

For a long time, people have opted for silver fillings as the best material for their restorative treatment. Compared to gold fillings, silver fillings are way more affordable. Besides, amalgams are just as sturdy as gold fillings. However, with the introduction of tooth-colored dental fillings, there has been a big change in perspective for both patients and dental experts. Over the years, people are gravitating more toward tooth-colored dental fillings over amalgam fillings. Some of the reasons for that are:

1. Aesthetic advantages – Tooth-colored fillings can be matched to the natural color of your teeth. It also makes them more suitable for front teeth than silver fillings.
2. Safety measures – You do not have to worry about the metal components of fillings leaking into your system and causing allergies, as is sometimes the case with amalgams.
3. Sturdiness – Although they are not made of metal, porcelain fillings closely match the sturdiness of silver and gold fillings. They can last a long time without getting damaged from frequent chewing and other oral works.
4. Cost variety – You can choose between composites and porcelain fillings when you need to be intentional about the cost of your treatment. If you want something inexpensive, then you can still get tooth-colored composite fillings.
5. Durability – Depending on your preference, tooth-colored fillings can serve you short-term or long-term. Composite fillings typically last between 5 and 8 years if properly cared for, while porcelain fillings last about 10 and 15 years. Since silver fillings also last between 10 and 15 years, you will not be losing out on much when you opt for tooth-colored fillings over amalgams.

How Do You Choose the Right Dental Filling?

The first cheat code to help you make the right decision is to lean on your dentist, who ultimately knows what’s best. However, you must be bold about your preferences. Know what you want enough for you to verbalize it during your dental consultation appointment. Consider also any budgetary restrictions you may have. For instance, although you may desire to get porcelain fillings, your budget may only be sufficient to cover the cost of composite fillings. Talk to your health insurance about the coverage of your dental filling procedure based on the varying types of tooth fillings.

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