White fillings - what are they made of?
Fillings are used to repair a cavityDecay in tooth caused by caries; also referred to as carious lesion. in your tooth so that you can avoid further damage to the tooth and gums, which can cause decay to spread. The procedure is painless and can usually be conducted in one session with local anaesthetic.
The most common type of fillingA lay term used for the restoring of lost tooth structure by using materials such as metal, alloy, or porcelain. is an amalgamSingle surface silver filling. filling, which is made from different types of metal, however, white fillings have grown in popularity massively over the last few decades. This is likely due to the fact that they blend in with natural teeth, and therefore look less noticeable than silver amalgam fillings. Patients have become increasingly concerned about how traditional fillings look and in some cases, this can affect their self-esteem.
White fillings come in different forms, known as composite fillings and glass ionomer fillings. Both are tooth coloured, with compositeSingle surface composite filling (white or tooth colored) performed on a tooth in the front of the mouth. being made from a mixture of resins. Glass ionomer fillings contain powdered glass, which is more effective in releasing fluoride that can protect the tooth but is not a permanent restorative material.
There is also an option of resin composite fillings, that are made from a ceramic and plastic compound. The resin looks very familiar to the natural colour of your enamelHard calcified tissue covering dentin of the crown of tooth., hence the popularity of these fillings.
If you have any questions regarding fillings and in particular what type would be best for you, please reach out to your dentist. Furthermore, if you do feel a cavity, it is important to get it fixed as soon as possible, in order to avoid any further damage.
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