The various materials used in dental fillings

It is important to get your teeth and dental fillings checked every six months. There may be times when your dentist in Brampton may notice a loose filling. Fortunately, there are several replacement options out there.

 Here we've thrown some light on information on fillings and help you figure out what will work best.

Amalgam, copper, mercury and silver:

Let's begin by discussing dental filling basics: the various kinds of materials. Most dental fillings are created from an amalgam of tin, copper, mercury and silver (and at times with other metals as well). The experts believe that this amalgam is absolutely safe. This kind of filling needs to be replaced in every five to ten years. You must choose a Brampton dentist that does not use an amalgam because it does not look good from the aesthetic sense. You must want a filling that easily blends with the natural color of your teeth. Also, because amalgams are basically metal and non-translucent it can be difficult to see persistent decay under an older filling.

Gold:

Some fillings are created out of cast gold. They normally last for ten to fifteen years but can last longer as they will not corrode. However, they are also extremely expensive and can take longer to get placed in the teeth.

Composite:

One of the most common and popular form of fillings are known as composite fillings. Composite is essentially a material that is created of micro particles that can be bonded to the teeth easily. Composite fillings are tooth colored fillings and there are several shades that can be matched to the patient’s individual shade of tooth. The advantages of composites are several- they can easily bond to teeth and create a lid between the tooth and the filling, they can last for as long as amalgam, they are esthetic, and being translucent you can easily see decay being formed under them.

Why is it important to get a filling replaced? 

It is necessary to replace tooth fillings. You will have to get the fillings replaced if,

1. They start decaying: as time passes by your fillings will begin to rot simply because your teeth are constantly in use. When materials begin to break down, bacteria start to get inside the tooth and can lead to infection.
2. They begin to loosen: there are several reason why fillings can loosen such as poor cavity or "bad" bite.
3. They start to hurt: does your tooth hurt? If so then a replacement may be required. Your dental expert will normally try fixing the filling by filing or reshaping it. However, if pain does not go away in a few weeks you must schedule a dental checkup to see if the dentists can replace the dental filling.

Consult your Brampton dentist if you when you need a filling. The expert can offer you the best advice.