Dental fillings are one of the most common routine restorative procedures performed daily at every dental office. In this article, we answer the question: what does a dental filling look like? We will also discuss the pros and cons of the most common types of dental filling materials.
What Does a Dental Filling Look Like?
Dental filling is a type of dental restoration mainly used to treat cavities. During the procedure, your dentist will remove the decayed part of the tooth and then fill in and seal the space with a dental filling.
There are several types of dental fillings, and their appearance mainly depends on the material they are made of. Let us discuss the most common types of dental fillings and how they look in the mouth.
Resin Composite Dental Fillings
Resin composite is a material most commonly used for dental fillings. It is very similar to the color of natural teeth, so the dental filling made of this material is particularly indistinguishable in the mouth. Also, resin composite is used for dental bonding of the front teeth, which proves the point of it looking natural in the mouth. Other advantages of resin composite dental fillings include:
- Resin composite fillings can be less expensive than some other types of fillings, which we will discuss further.
- Your dentist will need to remove a smaller portion of the tooth to place a composite filling than they would for a silver amalgam filling.
Disadvantages of composite fillings:
- Composite fillings might be less durable than fillings made from other materials. However, with proper care and good oral hygiene habits, they still tend to last for 7 to 10 years.
- Composite fillings might not be advisable for larger cavities as they are less durable under pressure from chewing.
- Composite fillings might chip or crack with time or if you chew a lot of hard and crunchy foods.
Ceramic Dental Fillings
Ceramic fillings, also known as porcelain fillings, look very natural in the mouth because they are slightly translucent, similar to the enamel of natural teeth. Another advantage of porcelain is that it is resistant to staining and can maintain its original appearance longer than resin composite. Ceramic fillings typically last for approximately 10 to 15 years. However, porcelain is more expensive than resin composite or silver amalgam.
Silver Amalgam Dental Fillings
As the name suggests, silver amalgam dental fillings are made of silver combined with several other materials. Thus, this type of dental filling has a distinct silver shade and will be more noticeable in the mouth than resin composite or ceramic fillings. For this reason, silver amalgam fillings are mostly chosen to treat cavities at the back of the mouth. However, some patients might find the look of silver amalgam fillings appealing and choose them to treat the front teeth specifically because of their appearance.
Additionally, there are some disadvantages of silver amalgam you should take into consideration. In some cases, silver amalgam can cause discoloration of the surrounding teeth. Also, it can expand and contract due to changes in temperatures, which can undermine the tooth’s structure.
Gold Fillings
Gold fillings are more noticeable in the mouth than silver amalgam fillings. However, the look of this material can be attractive to some patients, similar to silver amalgam. Fillings made of gold have some advantages:
- Gold is highly durable and does not corrode.
- Gold fillings last longer than other types of fillings because they can withstand a lot of pressure when chewing.
The disadvantages of gold fillings include:
- Gold is a more expensive material than resin composite or silver amalgam.
- Placing gold fillings might require more than one visit to the dental office.
Glass Ionomer Fillings
Glass Ionomer dental fillings are made of a combination of glass and acrylic. They are similar in color to natural teeth. However, they are much less durable than other dental filling materials and can last only 5 to 7 years. For this reason, they are mostly used to treat cavities in temporary baby teeth.
Make an Appointment at Our Dental Office
Do not hesitate to make an appointment with an experienced cosmetic dentist at the Valley Alder dental office today. We will carefully examine your case and offer you the most suitable dental filling solution, taking into consideration your budget and appearance preferences. Our specialists look forward to your visit.
