Cavities develop in your teeth when the enamel is damaged by the accumulation of plaque. When those cavities are not immediately treated, they can progress to the level of affecting the nerves and other delicate tissues in your teeth. This article discusses some filling options that may be used to treat the cavities in your teeth.
Amalgam Fillings
These are fillings made by combining mercury and other base metals like copper, tin and silver. The shortcoming of these fillings is that they are silver in color. Consequently, they are not good to use in front teeth since they will be noticeable and affect the quality of your smile. Their advantage is that they are very affordable and durable.
Composite Dental Fillings
These fillings are made from composite resin and glass or quartz. They are also durable like amalgam fillings but they have the added advantage of being tooth-colored so they can be used on front teeth. One drawback of these fillings is that they are quite expensive. The process of placing them also takes much longer than that needed to place amalgam fillings. Over time, composite dental fillings become discolored (stained) so you may need to replace them if you want a brighter smile.
Glass Ionomer Dental Fillings
These fillings are made from glass and acrylic and their color is similar to that of teeth. Their chief strength lies in their ability to release fluoride in order to protect your teeth from further decay. However, the fillings are not very durable, so dentists avoid placing them on teeth that are involved in grinding/chewing food (such as the molars).
Resin Ionomer Dental Fillings
Like glass ionomer dental fillings, resin ionomer fillings are also made from glass and acrylic. The only difference between these two dental fillings is that the resin ionomers are used to fill cavities that are found between teeth while the glass ionomers are used on cavities found in the teeth themselves. These two kinds of fillings are more costly than amalgam dental fillings.
Custom Dental Restorations
Your dentist may decide that you need custom-made fillings, so he or she will get a mold of your affected teeth and use it to make special restoration inlays for you. The inlay will fill the cavity and also cover the surface (top and sides) of the tooth. These restorations are made from metal alloys or porcelain and are very durable. They are the most expensive fillings you can get.
If you suspect that you have cavities, visit the dental clinic near you so that the dentist can advise you on the best fillings to use.
Share12 June 2015
As you age, it can become harder to take care of your teeth. Motor challenges can make it hard to floss, while memory issues may make it easy to overlook brushing. Whether you are a senior looking for solutions to some of the common dental problems or a senior with specific questions about cavities or oral surgery, you have come to the right place. In this blog, I am going to touch on a range of topics related to seniors and oral health. This is the type of resource I wish my mum would have had access to in her senior years, and I hope you enjoy having access to it during yours. I appreciate you reading my posts.
