Fillings

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Fillings


A dental filling is a type of restorative dentistry treatment used to repair minimal tooth fractures, tooth decay or otherwise damaged surfaces of the teeth. Dental filling materials, which include composite, porcelain and silver amalgam, may be used to even out tooth surfaces for better biting or chewing.

Dentist will begin the dental filling procedure by preparing the tooth and necessary surrounding areas in order to restore the damaged area. The decay or damage is removed and the area is cleansed to remove bacteria or debris before it is “filled” with the filling materials.

Amalgam fillings
It has been used as a dental filling material for more than 150 years.

Properties

  • Hard and durable; high wear resistance
  • Safe

Disadvantage

  • The greyish-silver colour of amalgam is not esthetically appealing.

Composite fillings
are mercury-free, plastic material matching natural tooth colour used to replace missing parts of a tooth. Since they bond to the tooth, composite fillings restore most of the original strength and natural appearance of the tooth. Besides offering durability and strength, many patients opt for composite fillings, as they are also more aesthetically pleasant.

A substance made up of acrylic resin filled with inorganic substances such as glass, quartz as additives to enhance the strength

Properties

  • Esthetic
  • colour is similar to that of natural teeth

Disadvantage

  • Not as hard as amalgam