{"id":919,"date":"2017-12-01T15:54:09","date_gmt":"2017-12-01T15:54:09","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/islandcoastdentistry.com\/?p=919"},"modified":"2025-04-15T16:45:36","modified_gmt":"2025-04-15T16:45:36","slug":"guide-different-types-fillings","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.islandcoastdentistry.com\/blog\/guide-different-types-fillings\/","title":{"rendered":"A Guide to the Different Types of Fillings"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>When you are going to the dentist, chances are that you\u2019re going to need a filling at some point. So below is an explanation of the different types of filling materials and their advantages and disadvantages.<br \/>\n<!--more--><\/p>\n<h2>Fillings Made of Cast Gold<\/h2>\n<p><strong>Advantages:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Durable \u2013 They\u2019ll last a minimum of 10 \u2013 15 years, many times longer. They won\u2019t corrode.<\/li>\n<li>Strong \u2013 They are able to withstand chewing<\/li>\n<li>Looks \u2013 Sometimes patients choose them because they\u2019re nice to look at and they prefer them over the silver fillings.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Disadvantages:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Expensive \u2013 They are more costly when compared to other materials and their price can be as much as 10x the cost of silver fillings.<\/li>\n<li>More office visits \u2013 Will require a minimum of two visits to place.<\/li>\n<li>Galvanic shock \u2013 When a gold filling is put beside silver fillings patients might feel sharp pain. This is called galvanic shock. The interaction of the saliva and the metals sometimes causes electric currents to happen. This is rare, though<\/li>\n<li>Appearance \u2013 For some people, they\u2019d prefer that others don\u2019t know that they have a filling and they want the filling to look like their teeth.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Amalgams or Silver Fillings<\/h2>\n<p><strong>Advantages:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Durable \u2013 They last a minimum of 10-15 years and usually will outlast tooth-colored fillings.<\/li>\n<li>Strong \u2013 They can withstand the force of chewing<\/li>\n<li>Expensive \u2013 Though not as expensive as gold, they are still costlier when compared with composite.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Disadvantages:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Appearance \u2013 The silver fillings are apparent when they are in the teeth.<\/li>\n<li>More of the Tooth\u2019s Structure is Destroyed \u2013 A tooth\u2019s healthy parts often need to be removed in order to have enough space for the filling.<\/li>\n<li>Discoloration \u2013 These fillings often make the surrounding tooth\u2019s structure to look to have a hue that\u2019s greyish.<\/li>\n<li>Fractures and Cracks \u2013 Even though every tooth expands and contracts when it\u2019s exposed to cold and hot liquids, which often cause teeth to fracture or crack, this type of material, when compared with other types of fillings, can experience a lot more incidences of fractures and cracks due to contracting and expanding.<\/li>\n<li>Allergic reactions \u2013 There are some people who are allergic to these types of fillings since they have mercury in them. This percentage is very small, though, about 1%.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Tooth-colored Composites<\/h2>\n<p><strong>Advantages:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Aesthetics \u2013 The color or shade of the filling is able to be matched closely to the patient\u2019s existing tooth\u2019s color. They\u2019re usually suited well for fillings on front teeth or when it\u2019s visible.<\/li>\n<li>Bonds to the Structure of the Tooth \u2013 This type of filling chemically bonds to the tooth\u2019s structure and provides more support.<\/li>\n<li>Versatility \u2013 Along with being great for filling material, it also can be used for repairing worn, broken or chipped teeth.<\/li>\n<li>Helps Spare a Tooth \u2013 Sometimes this type of filling will require less removal of the tooth\u2019s structure when compared with the amalgam fillings when decay is removed and the tooth is replaced for filling.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Disadvantages:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Not as Durable \u2013 These types of fillings will wear out quicker than the other types of fillings. They will last as long as five years or more when compared with 10-15 years. They also aren\u2019t as strong when they\u2019re being used for chewing, especially when they\u2019re used for huge cavities.<\/li>\n<li>Increased Time in the Chair \u2013 Due to how long it takes to put the composite on, these kinds of fillings often take as much as 20 minutes more time than other types of fillings.<\/li>\n<li>More visits \u2013 If you\u2019re using a composite for an onlay or inlay, you may need to go back to the dentist more than once.<\/li>\n<li>Chipping \u2013 Based on the location, this type of material can chip off your tooth.<\/li>\n<li>Expensive \u2013 These types of fillings are often up two double the price when compared with amalgam.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Along with composite, tooth colored fillings, there are two other kinds of fillings that are two tooth colored \u2013 glass ionomer and ceramics.<\/p>\n<h2>Other Types of Fillings<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>Glass Ionomer \u2013 This is made of a certain kind of glass and acrylic. This is often used for fillings in children and under a patient\u2019s gum line. It still needs to be drilled. These release fluoride and they help with protecting teeth from decaying further. But this material\u2019s weaker when compared to composite resin. Its also more prone to fracturing and wearing. They last up to five years and the price is comparable with composite. But the newer ones usually last longer and when they are put in the right areas, they\u2019re equal with composites.<\/li>\n<li>Ceramics \u2013 These fillings are often made from porcelain and they\u2019re much more stain resistant than composite. However, they\u2019re also a lot more abrasive. This type of material usually last longer than 15 years, but they\u2019re often as expensive as gold.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>These are the types of materials that you can choose from when you are getting a filling. Think about their advantages and disadvantages and then choose the one that\u2019s best for you.<\/p>\n<h2>Need to see a dentist?<\/h2>\n<p>Come visit <a href=\"https:\/\/www.islandcoastdentistry.com\/\">Island Coast Dentistry<\/a> today! We would be happy to help you with all your dental needs. We offer many <a href=\"https:\/\/www.islandcoastdentistry.com\/our-services.html\">services<\/a> that will help you to have a happy and healthier smile, so <a href=\"https:\/\/www.islandcoastdentistry.com\/contact.html\">contact us<\/a> today!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>When you are going to the dentist, chances are that you\u2019re going to need a filling at some point. So below is an explanation of the different types of filling materials and their advantages and disadvantages.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-919","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-dental-care"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.5 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>A Guide to the Different Types of Fillings - Island Coast Dentistry Blog<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Do you need to get dental fillings? 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