Everything You Need To Know About Dental Fillings

The teeth are essential in carrying out some daily activities; therefore, they must be perfect. The teeth are responsible for biting, tearing, chewing, and grinding of food, pronunciation of words and production of speech, and supporting the jaws, and shaping the face. With deformed teeth or without the teeth in the mouth, chewing of food will prove difficult and almost impossible, thereby slowing down the digestion process. Also, defective or missing teeth would make the pronunciation of words difficult, thereby making efficient communication difficult.

Finally, missing teeth would make the jaw lose its support and cause the face to lose its shape. That leads to sagging of the face and causes wrinkles to appear on the face, making you look older than you are. While you might have a perfect and complete set of teeth while growing up, over time, it is possible to develop defects in the teeth or even lose the teeth. Your teeth can become defective or even fall out due to improper care, injuries/accidents, diseases, old age, etc. Since bad teeth ruin your smile and make your face lose its aesthetic value, it is advisable to opt for dental fillings in Brighton Family Dentistry.

Dental fillings are a form of dental restorative treatment option used for the reparation, restoration, and replacement of missing and damaged tooth or teeth structures. Dental fillings are used to treat and fill dental cavities that are formed as a result of tooth decay. Cavities are tiny holes in the teeth caused by a breakdown of the tooth enamel. They result from bacteria and dental plaques that produce acid on the teeth, which destroy the tooth enamel. A cavity, if left untreated, will grow in size and lead to other cavities. However, dental fillings will help to fill a dental cavity and prevent further tooth decay. Dental fillings improve jaw functions and evens out the tooth surface. Fillings also improve the reaction of the teeth to hot or cold temperatures.

Types Of Dental Fillings

There are about five types of dental fillings based on the type of materials used in their production. They include:

• Composite Fillings: Composite fillings are made with plastic resin materials and are also referred to as composite resin fillings. Getting composite dental fillings in Brighton, ON, helps to improve the aesthetic value of the teeth because the shade/color of composite fillings can be matched to the color of existing teeth. Composite fillings are placed inside the teeth while they are soft and hardened with a bright curing light. Composite resin fillings do not require much tooth structure to be removed during the procedure. However, composite fillings do not last very long. They are also a bit expensive than other fillings and can chip or crack.
• Silver Amalgam Fillings: Contrary to its name, it is not just made with silver. Silver amalgam fillings are made up of a mixture of silver, tin, copper, mercury, and zinc. It is widely known and used because it is strong, durable, and affordable. However, it is not aesthetically pleasing as it cannot be made to match the existing color of the teeth. Therefore, it is evident and might not suit people who do not want their dental restorations exposed.
• Ceramic Fillings: This type of filling is made of porcelain materials. It is durable, tooth-colored, and aesthetically attractive. It can also be used to fill large cavities left by decay. Ceramic fillings are not easily stained and are long-lasting. However, ceramic fillings are more brittle; therefore, to prevent breakage, they cover large areas of decay.
• Gold Fillings: As expected, this type of filling is expensive. However, it is worth the price because while they are visible, they do not rust, they are thick, and they are very durable. Gold fillings can last as long as 20 years. However, gold fillings are not very common and can take several visits to the dentist before they are correctly fitted.
• Glass Ionomer Fillings: This type of filling is made with glass and acrylic. It releases fluoride into the mouth, protecting the teeth from further decay, making it suitable for children. However, they do not match teeth’ color, and they are not as durable as other types of fillings.

If you want your dental restoration procedures concealed, you should opt for composite dental fillings.