By maintaining good oral hygiene habits and having teeth sealed, you can prevent most cavities. However, if you do get a cavity, fillings have improved dramatically and you can choose from several types.
Amalgams
One of the most common dental fillings in Mitchellville, MD are amalgams. They’re made from a combination of metals including silver, tin, zinc, copper, and mercury. Mercury accounts for almost half of the metals in the composite. This mixture is mainly used for back teeth because it holds up well to chewing and can last at least 10 years.
Composite Resin
This material for is made from a combination of plastic and ground glass particles. It is used for both direct and indirect dental fillings. A direct filling means that the resin is placed in the cavity and hardened by a blue light. An indirect filling involves making an impression of the tooth and making a filling from the mold. Then the dentist places the filling, which matches the natural color of teeth, and cements it into place.
Cast Gold
This is a gold alloy that is used as an inlay or onlay filling or for crowns. An inlay is a dental filling placed inside the cusp of the tooth and an onlay goes over the entire chewing surface of the tooth. Although though they are much more expensive than amalgams, a cast gold filling is very hard and can last at least 15 years.
Ceramics
Ceramic dental fillings are also known as porcelain and can be used for onlays, inlays, crowns, veneers, or implants. They last for about seven years and many people like them because they are tooth colored.
It is a good idea to check with your dental insurance to see what type of filling they will pay for, especially if you want to use cast gold.
