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What are the various types of dental fillings?

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Dental fillings are one of the common dental restoration procedures done by dentists for fixing a decayed, cracked, or chipped tooth. A proper dental filling procedure is carried out by cleaning the tooth area and replacing the lost tooth structure with a dental filling which is then shaped out to mimic the natural teeth.

Most commonly used dental fillings:

  • Composite
  • Ceramic

ceramic and composite fillings procedure

Composite fillings

A composite filling is the most commonly used dental restorative material as it is a tooth-coloured and very aesthetic to match the colour of your teeth. Over the last few decades, composite fillings have become more popular than silver amalgam fillings due to their distinctive properties. 

Composite fillings are created from plastic and resin material and due to their durable property, they can last up to 5 to 10 years. As the composite material is flexible in nature it helps preserve more area of your natural tooth. They blend in well with your tooth creating a strong bond within a minute of procedure. They are mostly used for small fillings and repairs and in fixing minor cosmetic flaws such as changing the colour and restoring shape of your teeth. 

When compared to amalgam fillings, composite fillings have less chances of tooth sensitivity, as the material acts as a tooth insulation against both hot and cold temperature variations. Also, it is better to replace old amalgam fillings with composite fillings as there is a chance for the tooth to crack due to the expansion and contracting nature of the amalgam fillings.

Another advantage of using composite resin fillings is that they do not contain mercury or other harmful substances causing chemical reactions leading to long-term health issues.

before and after tooth filling

Ceramic fillings

Ceramic fillings or restorations are often referred to as inlays or onlays and are created using porcelain material, making them both durable and aesthetically pleasing. Even though ceramic fillings cost more than other tooth fillings, they are tooth-coloured, stain and abrasion-resistant, and are better than composite resin. They are generally used for larger restorations. As they are made in the dental laboratory, they can be tinted to any shade in order to match the colour of your original teeth.

They maintain, protect and help teeth look white day after day, as they are less likely to get stained over time. Due to their tough nature, ceramic fillings tend to last longer than composite fillings and hence can be considered as a good investment. As they are least vulnerable to developing cavities in the teeth, they are a much healthier option. 

Some of the other dental fillings used include silver amalgam, gold, and glass ionomers. Due to the negative health impacts and less likely properties, most dentists nowadays recommend or perform either composite or ceramic dental fillings.

See Also: 5 Reasons to Have A Tooth Extraction

At Dr. Joy Dental Clinic, we consider saving the original tooth as an asset and hence we focus on providing high quality dental restoration services. If you have decayed teeth, chipped, broken, or cracked teeth, contact us at 800-DRJOY (37569) to book a consultation for dental restoration procedures by expert dentists in Dubai.

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