Traditional dental restoratives, or fillings, include gold, porcelain, and composite. The strength and durability of traditional dental materials make them useful for situations where restored teeth must withstand extreme forces that result from chewing, often in the back of the mouth.Newer dental fillings include ceramic and plastic compounds that mimic the appearance of natural teeth. We use composite resins, often called bonding compounds, on the front teeth for a natural appearance, but we can also apply them to back teeth based on the location and extent of tooth decay.
Are dental fillings right for me?
Several factors influence the performance, durability, longevity and expense of dental restorations, including:
The components used in the filling material
The amount of tooth structure remaining
We determine where and how to place the filling based on the location and condition of the tooth
The chewing load that the tooth will have to bear
The length and number of visits needed to prepare and adjust the restored tooth
Before your treatment begins, your doctor will discuss with you all of your options and help you choose the best filling for your particular case. In preparation for this discussion it may be helpful to understand the two basic types of dental fillings — direct and indirect.
Direct fillings are fillings placed into a prepared cavity in a single visit. They include glass ionomers, resin ionomers, and composite (resin) fillings. The dentist prepares the tooth, places the filling, and adjusts it in one appointment.
Indirect fillings generally require two or more visits. They include inlays, onlays, veneers, crowns, and bridges fabricated with gold, base metal alloys, ceramics, or composites. During the first visit, the dentist prepares the tooth and takes an impression of the area to restore. The dentist then places a temporary covering over the prepared tooth. We send the impression to a dental laboratory, where they create the dental restoration. At the next appointment, the dentist cements the restoration into the prepared cavity and adjusts it as needed.
