Which Type of Tooth Filling is Best?

By closing off spaces where bacteria can enter, a tooth filling also helps prevent further decay. Materials used for tooth fillings include gold, porcelain, a composite resin (tooth-colored fillings), and an amalgam (an alloy of mercury, silver, copper, tin and sometimes zinc).

Which Type of Tooth Filling is Best?

No one type of tooth filling is best for everyone. What’s right for you will be determined by the extent of the repair, whether you have allergies to certain materials, where in your mouth the filling is needed, and the cost. Considerations for different materials include:

Gold fillings are made to order in a laboratory and then cemented into place. Gold inlays are well tolerated by gum tissues, and may last more than 20 years. For these reasons, many authorities consider gold the best filling material. However, it is often the most expensive choice and requires multiple visits. Amalgam (silver) fillings are resistant to wear and relatively inexpensive. However, due to their dark color, they are more noticeable than porcelain or composite restorations and are not usually used in very visible areas, such as front teeth.

Composite (plastic) resins are matched to be the same color as your teeth and therefore used where a natural appearance is desired. The ingredients are mixed and placed directly into the cavity, where they harden. Composites may not be the ideal material for large fillings as they may chip or wear over time. They can also become stained from coffee, tea or tobacco, and do not last as long as other types of fillings generally from three to 10 years. Porcelain fillings are called inlays or onlays and are produced to order in a lab and then bonded to the tooth. They can be matched to the color of the tooth and resist staining. A porcelain restoration generally covers most of the tooth. Their cost is similar to gold. If decay or a fracture has damaged a large portion of the tooth, a crown, or cap, may be recommended. Decay that has reached the nerve may be treated in two ways: through root canal therapy (in which nerve damaged nerve is removed) or through a procedure called pulp capping (which attempts to keep the nerve alive).

What Happens When You get a Tooth Filling? If your dentist decides to fill a cavity, he or she will first remove the decay and clean the affected area. The cleaned-out cavity will then be filled with any of the variety of materials described above.

How Do I Know if I Need a Tooth Filling? Only your dentist can detect whether you have a cavity that needs to be filled. During a checkup, your dentist will use a small mirror to examine the surfaces of each tooth.

Anything that looks abnormal will then be closely checked with special instruments. Your dentist may also X-ray your entire mouth or a section of it. The type of treatment your dentist chooses will depend on the extent of damage caused by decay.

Amalgam

Made of : A mixture of silver, tin, zinc, copper and mercury. Mercury is nearly 50% of the mixture. Types : Traditional (non-bonded) Used for : Fillings in back teeth Lasts : At least 10 years, usually longer Costs : The least expensive type of restorative material

Advantages :

Amalgam fillings are strong. They can withstand the forces of chewing.
They are less costly than the alternatives.
Amalgam fillings can be completed in one dental visit.
They are less sensitive to moisture during the filling process than composite resin.

Disadvantages :

Amalgam doesn’t match the color of your teeth.
Amalgam fillings can corrode or tarnish over time. This can cause discoloration where the filling meets the tooth.
A traditional (non-bonded) amalgam filling does not bond (hold together) with your tooth.
The cavity preparation (the “pocket” in your tooth) developed by your dentist requires undercuts or ledges to keep the filling in place. Your dentist may have to remove more of the tooth to create a secure pocket.
Some people may be allergic to mercury or be concerned about its effects. Research shows that the amount of mercury exposure from fillings is similar to what people get from other sources in the environment.

Composite Resin

Made of : A mixture of plastic and fine glass particles. Types : Direct and indirect. Direct fillings are placed by your dentist using a bright blue light that hardens the soft material. For indirect fillings, your dentist prepares the tooth and takes an impression of it. A laboratory or the dentist then will make the filling from the mold. During a second visit, your dentist cements this filling into place. Used for : Small and large fillings, especially in front teeth or the visible parts of teeth; also for inlays Lasts : At least five years Costs : More than amalgam, but less than gold

Advantages :

Your fillings or inlay will match the color of your teeth.
A filling can be completed in one dental visit. An inlay may require two visits.
Composite fillings can bond directly to the tooth. This makes the tooth stronger than it would be with an amalgam filling.
Less drilling is involved than with amalgam fillings. That’s because your dentist does not have to shape the space as much to hold the filling securely. The bonding process holds the composite resin in the tooth.
Indirect composite fillings and inlays are heat-cured. This step increases their strength.
Composite resin can be used in combination with other materials, such as glass ionomer, to provide the benefits of both materials.

Disadvantages :

Composite resins cost more than amalgam fillings.
Although composite resins have become stronger and more resistant to wear, it’s not clear whether they last as long as amalgam fillings under the pressure of chewing.
The composite may shrink when placed, producing gaps between the tooth and the filling. This can lead to more cavities in areas where the filling is not making good contact with your tooth. The shrinkage is reduced when your dentist places this type of filling in thin layers.
These fillings take more time to place. That’s because they are usually placed in layers. The increased time and labor involved also contribute to the higher cost.
Indirect fillings and inlays take at least two visits to complete if your dentist is not prepared to make the inlay while you wait. Your dentist takes impressions at the first visit and places the filling or inlay at the second visit.

Cast Gold

Made of : Gold alloy (gold mixed with other metals) Used for : Inlays and onlays, crowns Lasts : At least 15 years, usually longer Costs : More than most other materials; 6 to 10 times more expensive than amalgam

Advantages :

Gold doesn’t corrode.
Some people like the gold color better than the silver color of amalgam.
Gold fillings are durable enough to withstand chewing forces. They last longer than all other filling materials.

Disadvantages :

You must visit the dentist at least twice to receive a gold filling. At the first visit, the dentist makes an impression of your tooth and places a temporary filling. The gold filling is made from the impression. It is placed at a second visit.
The cost is high because of the high cost of gold and the work involved.
If gold and amalgam fillings are right next to each other in your mouth, an electric current can result from interactions between the metals and your saliva. This can cause discomfort, called “galvanic shock.”
Gold fillings are not tooth-colored.

Ceramics

Made of : Porcelain, most commonly Used for : Inlays and onlays, crowns, veneers, implants, and orthodontic brackets Lasts : More than seven years Costs : More than composite and as much as or more than gold, depending on the filling.

Adantages :

Ceramics are tooth-colored.
Ceramics are more resistant to staining and abrasion than composite resin.

Disadvantages :

Ceramics are more brittle than composite resin and can break.
A ceramic inlay or onlay needs to be large enough to prevent it from breaking. This means that the tooth must be reduced in size to make room for the extra bulk. Consultation