For many years, dentists have used silver (amalgam) fillings to repair teeth that have suffered through decay. They are a safe and a relatively affordable option for most patients, yet more and more people are choosing to have white fillings which will match the rest of their natural teeth. These fillings are made up of a composite resin. Before deciding if you should go with white fillings, check out the other options that are available and make the best choice for you. The team at High Desert Dental can answer any questions you might have about these fillings.
Gold is very durable and therefore has been used for a long time for inlays and onlays, bonding, and fillings. They can last upwards of fifteen years. They take two visits to put on. The first visit consists of taking a mold of your tooth after the dentist at High Desert Dental has cleaned it of decay and prepared it. The second visit is for putting the gold filling in place. This is one of the most expensive types of fillings, however.
Amalgam fillings are made up of several types of metals which include copper, tin, mercury, zinc, and silver. They are a durable and affordable option if you don’t want gold or white. They can deteriorate over time though and stain the remaining enamel. They are also silver in color and usually not used where a filling can be seen.
Composite resin (white fillings) are created using a mixture of different plastics and tiny glass particles. They are great for filling activities, but they’re also helpful for more than that. They can be used as a bonding to repair the shape of a tooth or help cover up discolorations on your teeth. The process is simple and takes just one visit to the team at High Desert Dental. A color is chosen that matches your mouth, decay is removed from the tooth, and then a special light is used to harden the filling material onto your teeth. It’s then shaped properly and polished to a gleam. It’s a smooth and stain resistant option.