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The strength and durability of this traditional dental material makes it useful for situations where restored teeth must withstand extreme forces from chewing, often in the back of the mouth.
Traditional dental restoratives, or fillings, are most often made of silver amalgam. Newer dental fillings include ceramic and plastic compounds that mimic the appearance of natural teeth.
Several factors influence the performance, durability, longevity, and expense of dental restorations, including:
– The components used in the filling material
– The amount of tooth structure remaining
– Where and how the filling is placed
– The chewing load that the tooth will have to bear
– The length and number of visits needed to prepare and adjust the restored tooth
Before your treatment begins, your doctor will discuss all of your options with you and help you choose the best filling for your particular case. In preparation for this discussion, it may be helpful to understand the two basic types of dental fillings.
Fillings placed into a prepared cavity in a single visit. They include glass ionomers, resin ionomers, and composite (resin) fillings. The dentist prepares the tooth, places the filling, and adjusts it in one appointment.
This type of filling generally requires two or more visits. They include inlays, on-lays, and veneers fabricated with gold, base metal alloys, ceramics, or composites. They are used when a tooth has too much damage to support a filling but not enough to require a crown.
During the first visit, the dentist prepares the tooth and makes an impression of the area to be restored. A temporary covering is then placed over the prepared tooth. The impression is sent to a dental laboratory, where the restoration is created.
At the next appointment, the dentist cements the restoration into the prepared cavity and adjusts it as needed.