Different Types of Dental Fillings Available Near You in Cambridge
A decayed tooth must be repaired as part of a dental restoration procedure. First, the dentist in Cambridge must clean the decayed area, leaving a cavity or hole in the tooth. Next, the gap will be filled with a tooth filling to even out your tooth surface and restore its natural appearance. This article discusses the steps taken when filling your teeth and the various types of tooth fillings used in dental restoration.
What Are the Steps in Filling a Tooth?
First, your dentist will use local anaesthetic to numb the area to be filled. The decayed area will then be removed with a drill, an air abrasion tool, or a laser. The instrument used depends on the individual dentist’s level of comfort, training, and investment in the specific dental equipment, as well as the extent and location of the decay. The area will then be probed or tested to see if all of the decay has been removed.
Following the decay removal, your dentist at Floss Dental Cambridge will clean the cavity of bacteria and debris in preparation for the filling. If the decay is near your root, your dentist may first place a liner made of composite resin, glass ionomer, or another material to protect the nerve. Then, your dentist will usually finish and polish the filling once it is in place.
The following extra steps are required for tooth-coloured fillings. After the dentist removes the decay and cleans the area, the filling is applied in layers. The layers are then “cured” or hardened using a special light. After the multilayering process, your dentist will shape the material to the desired result, trim any excess material, and polish the final restoration.
Different Types of Dental Fillings
To cover a dental cavity, four different dental fillings are typically used. They are as follows: There are several dental fillings in Cambridge, ON. Teeth can be filled with gold, silver porcelain, amalgam (a mixture of mercury, silver, tin, zinc, and copper), or tooth-coloured, plastic, and composite resin fillings. Glass ionomer is another type of material that contains glass particles. This material is used in the same way that composite resin fillings are.
- Amalgam silver fillings
This is a well-liked tooth filling. Silver amalgam filling contains more than just silver; it also contains tin, zinc, copper, and mercury. It is a popular choice since it is durable, long-lasting, and less expensive than other options. A typical silver amalgam filling can last up to 12 years. In addition, because it is malleable, dentists find it simple to use.
The main drawback of this type of filling is that it is not aesthetically pleasing, making it unsuitable for a visible tooth. The material can also expand and contract with temperature changes, causing the tooth to crack. In addition, the fluctuations may cause a gap between the filling and the tooth, allowing food and bacteria to enter and causing new cavities to form.
- Composite Fillings
Plastic and resin are used to make composite fillings. It is softened and hardened inside the tooth using a bright curing light. It is a popular choice because it can be customized to match the colour of the patient’s existing teeth, making it less noticeable than silver amalgam fillings. Furthermore, composite fillings do not last as long as other types. They can live for up to five to ten years before they need to be replaced.
- Ceramic restorations
They are made of porcelain, which makes them both durable and aesthetically pleasing. Ceramic fillings are relatively expensive than other types of fillings, but they are tooth-coloured and more resistant to stains and abrasion than composite resin.
The disadvantage of ceramic filling over composite filling is that it is more brittle and must be used on larger cavities to avoid breakage. To accommodate the extra bulk, the dentist can enlarge the area.
- Glass Ionomer Fillings
This filling is composed of glass and acrylic. They are typically used on children whose teeth are still developing. They release fluoride into the tooth, protecting it from further decay. However, they only live for a few years because they are weaker. In addition, they will only last some few years since they are weaker than composite resin and will crack or wear out. Glass ionomer is not as natural-looking as composite resin.