Minor to moderate tooth decay creates small cavities in the healthy enamel of your teeth. Filling a cavity is a simple procedure where your dentist removed the decayed enamel and replaces it with another material that is resistant to decay.
The material your filling is made from can vary depending on how large the cavity was, where that tooth is in your smile and its basic function in your mouth. You dentist will give you the best recommendation.
Fillings made from gold alloys, or base metals are strong and durable. This makes them ideal for filling a cavity in your molars. Gold fillings are custom shaped in a lab and then cemented into your cavity at a brief follow up appointment.
Porcelain-ceramic fillings are stronger be color matched to your smile. Just like gold, porcelain fillings are made in a laboratory and then fitted during a follow up appointment.
Composite fillings are made from a plastic resin material. They are mixed and placed during the initial procedure. They can be color matched to the surrounding enamel making them ideal for teeth that are in your smile.
Amalgam fillings aren’t as costly as gold fillings, yet they can still be durable. Their natural dark color means they are not recommended for teeth in your smile.
It’s important to have a cavity filled before it can progress into something more serious. If you have a cavity in one of your teeth please call us at [phone] to schedule an appointment.