Dental Fillings

DENTAL FILLINGS PROCEDURES

WHAT ARE FILLINGS AND WHEN ARE THEY REQUIRED?

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Fillings are most often used to replace the part of the tooth that was lost to tooth decay. They also can stop tooth pain, prevent the loss of the tooth, or cover a crack in a tooth to prevent further splitting or the development of decay in the crack. Filling material is sometimes used to cover a tooth to improve its appearance — for cosmetic purposes.

Click to read more about Dental Cavity

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WHAT MATERIAL(S) ARE USED FOR FILLINGS?

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COMPOSITE RESIN

The most common material used today for fillings at Thaper Dental and even at developed parts of the world is composite resin, called a “tooth colored” filling by some. Composite resin is preferred as it closely matches your natural tooth and is very durable, lasting five to 15 years on average with good oral hygiene.

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IONOMERS

Ionomers are tooth-colored fillings made from glass particles mixed with acrylic acids. They are very natural looking, but as they are fragile they are only used for very small cavities or isolated cavities between teeth. Glass ionomers typically last about five years with good oral hygiene.

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SILVER FILLINGS

SILVER / Amalgam fillings are the fastest to do and the least expensive. Amalgam is a mixture of mercury, tin, silver and other materials and therefore has a metallic appearance in the mouth. But due to the studies proving them a leading cause of Mercury Allergies, as well as the extensive loss of tooth structure during the process, we at Thaper Dental have DISCONTINUED amalgam fillings since 2005.

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GOLD FILLINGS

Gold fillings are the most durable, lasting more than 15-25 years in many cases. However, they can be 10-15 times more expensive than amalgam fillings due to the price of gold, are more difficult for the dentist to place, and require at least two visits. In addition, gold conducts cold and heat and may cause pain or irritation for some people.

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