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Dental
Filling Choices
Teeth
that are fractured, broken, or decayed may be restored using a variety
of materials.
The
Department of Human Services has a useful link explaining many of
your choices.
I have
briefly described the most common choices below. More details can
also be obtained at:
Composite
Resins: (white fillings)
Amalgams: (silver fillings)
Gold crowns
Porcelain-fused-to-metal crowns
Porcelain/Ceramic crowns
DENTAL AMALGAMS (Silver Fillings)
Dental amalgams are a mix or blend of mercury, silver, copper, and
tin. Amalgam fillings have been in use for over 150 years. Dental
amalgams are strong and last a long time. They are also less expensive
than white fillings.
COMPOSITE
RESINS (White Fillings)
Composite resins are fillings made of a plastic resin densely filled
with particulate fillers to make them wear resistant and strong.
The composite resin is bonded into the tooth after the decay and/
or old filling material is removed.
Composite
resins are more costly than amalgam fillings. They are commonly
used for fillings in the front and back teeth. They match the existing
teeth.
GOLD
ALLOY
Gold
is used for crowns, bridges, inlays, and onlays. It is extremely
strong and will last a long time. Gold will not crack or fracture.
PORCELAIN-FUSED-TO-METAL (PFM)
Porcelain
can be fused to the outside surface or metal to create a tooth colored
restoration. There are a variety of metals available to dentists
for fabrication of a PFM restoration. PFM is used for both crowns
and bridges.
This
office does not use any non-precious PFM restorations. Only gold
alloys are used. Some of the non-precious choices include nickel
& beryllium, which is more allergenic than many metals.
PORCELAIN/CERAMIC
Porcelain
and Ceramic restorations are used for tooth colored crowns, inlays,
onlays, and veneers. Porcelain and ceramic restorations are very
natural looking.
Ceramic bridges are still under development. They are not commonly
used since they are not as strong as gold or porcelain-fused-to-gold.
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