One of the most common things that happen when someone goes to the dentist is that they need a filling. What types of fillings are there? What are their advantages and disadvantages? Below we’ll look at the different types of fillings and what they can offer you.

Cast Gold

Advantages:

  • Durable – They last anywhere from 10 – 15 years and often longer. They also don’t corrode.
  • Strong – They are able to withstand chewing forces.
  • Aesthetics – Some people find that they are more pleasing when compared with silver.

Disadvantages:

  • Expensive – They cost a lot more than the other types of material, as much as 10x more than the silver fillings.
  • More office visits – Will need a minimum of two visits for placing them.
  • Galvanic Shock – When gold and silver are put next to one another, it can cause sharp pains, also known as galvanic shock, to happen. The interaction with the saliva and metals also causes electric currents, but this is rare.
  • Aesthetics – Although a lot of people like the gold color, others don’t like the fact that the filling doesn’t look like their tooth.

Silver or Amalgams Fillings

Advantages:

  1. Durability – They last a minimum of 10 – 15 years and usually will outlast tooth-colored fillings.
  2. Strong – Are able to withstand the force of chewing
  3. Expense – Are often less expensive when compared with composite.

Disadvantages:

  1. Poor aesthetics – These fillings aren’t the color of your natural teeth.
  2. Additional tooth structure’s destroyed – Parts of your tooth that are healthy often need removing so that the space is big enough for holding these fillings.
  3. Discoloration – These kinds of filling create a hue to the surrounding structure of the tooth that’s greyish.
  4. Fractures and Cracks – Even though it’s normal that your teeth are contracting and expanding when they’re exposed to cold and hot liquids, which can make your tooth fracture or crack, this type of filling can often cause a higher rate of fractures and cracks.
  5. Allergic reactions – There are some people, about 1%, who have an allergic reaction to this type of filling because they are allergic to mercury. The fillings have mercury in them and this can release low mercury level vapor that people inhale and that can be absorbed into lungs. High mercury vapor level exposure can cause problems with your kidneys and brain. But there’s no link between these types of fillings and problems with a patient’s health, and the fillings are considered by the FDA for children over the age of 6 and adults.

Composites

Advantages:

  1. Aesthetics – The color and shade of these fillings are able to be matched closely to your teeth color. They’re very well suited for use on front teeth or sections of teeth that you can see.
  2. Bonding to the Surface of Teeth – These types of fillings bond chemically to the surface of teeth which provides more support.
  3. Versatility – Along with using it for a filling, they also can be used for repairing worn, chipped or broken teeth.
  4. Tooth-sparing – Sometimes a dentist has to remove less of a tooth’s surface when compared with the amalgam when they’re removing the decay and getting the tooth ready for this type of filling.

Disadvantages:

  1. Not Very Durable – This type of filling doesn’t last as long as compared with the other types of fillings – they only last as long as five years rather than 10 – 15. Additionally, they might not last long when compared with amalgam when chewing and especially if it’s used for a large cavity.
  2. Longer Time in the Chair – Due to the process that’s used for applying this type of material, this type of material can take as much as 20 extra minutes than amalgam.
  3. More Visits – If you’re using composite for onlays or inlays, you might have to go back to the dentist more.
  4. Chipping – Based on where the composite is used, it can start chipping off of your tooth.
  5. Expense – These fillings often have a price that’s double what amalgam fillings.

Along with the composite fillings, there two more fillings that exist that are tooth-colored – ceramic fillings and the glass ionomer fillings.

Other Types of Fillings:

  1. Ceramics – Ceramic fillings often are made from porcelain. These are more stain resistant when compared with composite. They’re also much more abrasive. These fillings often last longer than fifteen years. They also can be as expensive as the gold ones.
  2. Glass ionomer – These fillings are made from acrylic and glass material – a certain type. This is often used for the fillings below the patient’s gum line as well as young children’s fillings, although drilling still is required. They release fluoride which often can help with protecting teeth from decaying further. But this material is weaker than composite and it’s more prone to fracturing and more wear susceptible. It usually will last 5 years, although sometimes less, and the costs are comparable to the price of composite resin. More recent ones last longer, though, and when they’re put in the appropriate areas, are just as good as the composite.

These are the types of fillings that you can choose from when you are going to the dentist. If you aren’t sure which one is right for you, speak with your dentist and ask them what they suggest. They’ll give you advice and help you choose the one that is right for your needs and lifestyle.