After tooth decay has been removed, a dentist uses the different types of dental fillings to cover and treat the cavity made. These fillings may be made of porcelain, gold, amalgam or other composite materials, with the main choice influences being those of durability and cost. If the tooth is much severed to need more than a filling, but not enough to warrant a dental crown, then indirect fillings, which include inlays and on-lays, are used.
Types of dental fillings
One of the most common type of fillings is the composite resin dental filling, which is made of plastic resin, and can be colored to resemble a natural tooth. These type of fillings have no known health risks, are durable, strong and very natural when looked at.
The second type is the amalgam fillings, also very commonly known to as metal fillings. These may contain mercury, making them a safety concern (which they have been for a number of years). They are made of a mixture of small silver pieces, liquid mercury, and other metals like tin, copper, and zinc. The mercury in this mixture is suspected to form vapors that may contribute to several diseases like arthritis, multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer's disease and dementia. However, this has yet to be proven by the FDA.
Finally, there are the inlays and the onlays, which are used if a large part of your tooth, especially the molar tooth, is decayed. They are useful to help avoid use of the more expensive crown, but with better results than an ordinary fill for this extensive cavity. Inlays are placed between the cusps, where as the onlays are placed to cover one or more cusps. These filling types are cemented in to place, and can be made of porcelain, gold, or a tooth colored resin. Good to note is that dental fillings repair the tooth and stop further decay, but may need replacement over time.
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