Types of Dental Fillings

Did you know there are different types of fillings available to fill cavities? Today, our Ottawa dentists talk about the kinds of dental fillings that may be available to you.

Dental fillings can be crafted from different types of materials such as amalgam, porcelain, gold, and composite resins. As well as being safe and long-lasting, all of these materials have their own advantages and disadvantages. 

Composite Fillings

Composite fillings are plastic tooth-coloured fillings that offer a natural feel and appearance when they are applied to a tooth.

Composite fillings are the same colour as your natural teeth, which lets them blend in easily with the rest of your smile. These materials can also be moulded onto teeth fairly easily, and since they bond naturally to teeth, your dentist won't have to remove as much existing enamel during the preparation process.

In order to place this type of filling, your dentist will first remove decay from the tooth and then apply bonding material to the inside of the cavity. After that, thin layers of composite resin are poured into the hole. With the help of curing light, each layer hardens to a solid form. When the final layer of the filling has hardened, your dentist will shape the filling so that it matches the shape of your natural teeth.

Porcelain Fillings

A strong, tooth-coloured dental restoration is made from a combination of hard and brittle porcelain fillings with metal, that creates a tooth-coloured dental restoration.

A porcelain filling is made in a dental lab and sent to your dentist, who cements it in place in your mouth. Generally, at least two dental appointments are needed to complete this process.

Amalgam Fillings

Silver in colour, amalgam fillings are often used to fill teeth that are situated in the back of the mouth. They are a mixture of metals, including mercury, silver, copper, and tin, among others.

While the silver colour may not be appealing to people who prefer a more natural appearance, they are a long-lasting option for molars that are subjected to a great deal of wear and tear.

Gold Fillings

A model of your tooth must be taken In order to make a cast gold filling. A mixture of gold and other metals, such as silver and copper, is used to create these pieces.

Much like the porcelain fillings, this type of dental filling is made in a dental lab and then returned to your dentist, who cements it into place inside your mouth. As a result, this type of filling typically requires at least two dental appointments to complete.

Contact our Ottawa dentists today to find out which fillings we have available at Riverside Family Dentistry.