Material Types Used In Dental Fillings

material types used in dental fillingsA cavity does irreversible damage to your tooth’s enamel. If decay starts to form on a tooth, you need to see your dentist for restorative dental work. What happens after the infected material is removed? The simplest method is to restore a damaged tooth with a dental filling. With the right material, your filling can fix your tooth without causing any real issue with how it looks. Several different materials can be used to make your filling. While metal fillings were once popular, there are material types available through your dentist that can offer a more attractive and effective solution.

Different Types Of Lifelike Dental Fillings

Your dentist can offer you one of three different types of material for your filling. Composite resin fillings are popular because they can bond directly with your tooth. The material’s appearance is lifelike enough to sometimes be used for minor cosmetic dental work. Ionomer fillings can actually release small amounts of fluoride to offer extra benefits to the tooth’s health, and are biocompatible. Ceramic or porcelain fillings can reflect light the way your enamel does, and are the strongest of the three material types available for fillings.

Some Cavities Need More Than A Filling

A filling is only effective up to a certain point – if too much of your tooth had to be replaced, a filling may not be enough support. In these instances, your dentist can turn to a dental crown to offer your tooth necessary protection. If your tooth is put through a root canal, you should certainly anticipate having it fitted with a crown after.