Fillings are a procedure that our Long Island dentist may use to repair one of your teeth if there is a cavity. Cavities form when bacteria has etched and eroded the tooth, creating a hole inside your enamel.
There are two different types of filling material available: tooth-colored composite fillings, and silver amalgam fillings. Silver amalgam fillings and white composite fillings each have different methods of application and advantages, allowing us to select the one that’s best for your needs.
What are Tooth-Colored Fillings?
Composite fillings are made from a synthetic resin material such as ceramic or glass ionomer. Each is very strong and safe to use inside your mouth.
It’s very important that the oral cavity stays dry to place tooth-colored fillings properly. If placed in a wet environment, composites won’t last because they cannot bond with the tooth. As such, special measures—such as a dental dam or cotton rolls—are used to isolate your tooth from the rest of your mouth.
Once the cavity has been cleaned out, we will place a series of solutions on the prepped area of your tooth so that the composite can bond properly. Some of these may include an etch, a desensitizer, and a bonding agent. Initially, the composite material that is dispensed is a putty type consistency, which allows us to mold it into the shape we need it to be. A special blue light will be used to set and harden the composite into your tooth. After the material is dry, our Long Island cosmetic dentist will do the final shaping and polishing of the restoration.
What are Silver Fillings?
Amalgam fillings have been used in dentistry for over 100 years to restore decayed teeth. The silver material consists of an alloy of different metals, including silver, tin, mercury, and copper.
These restorations can be placed in a wet field, so a rubber dam isn’t required. They work well if someone has a heavy saliva flow. However, our dentist may place cotton around your cheeks and tongue to keep them out of the way.
Your tooth will be prepped in basically the same way as a white filling. And a desensitizing solution that will help prevent sensitivity after your procedure. Amalgam comes in a powder form and needs to be shaken aggressively with a special machine that is similar to one that shakes a big can of paint 一 just on a smaller scale.
Once mixed, our assistant will pack the material in the amalgam dispenser and the dentist will begin to fill and shape your tooth. Silver fillings harden on their own with time, so upon dismissal, we’ll instruct you not to eat or floss that area for several hours.
Advantages of White Fillings
An advantage of tooth-colored fillings is that they are less invasive to teeth than amalgam. Plus, they yield a better cosmetic result because of the custom-matched material that’s used.
Also, composite restorations don’t contain any metal alloys and provide a tighter bond to the tooth.
Advantages of Silver Fillings
Silver fillings can last several years and are strong enough to withstand the biting force of back molars. Amalgam restorations are also easier to place in hard-to-reach areas of the mouth that can’t stay dry or in individuals with heavy saliva flow. They also tend to be more affordable in some cases.
Is One Filling Better Than Another?
One filling material isn’t necessarily better than the other. There are just some instances where one is more ideal to use.
For example, in some areas of the mouth, it’s logical to place a specific filling. For instance, on a front tooth, you’ll want a tooth-colored restoration that blends in. Whereas on a back molar the appearance won’t matter as much, so an amalgam filling is fine.
Composite fillings are bonded closely to teeth, so they may stick better and last longer in areas of large decay. White fillings also tend to result in less sensitivity.
Some people prefer not to have any metal in their mouth for various reasons. If you’re one of them, we encourage you to speak to our Long dentist so that we can take that into consideration when planning your treatment options.
Will My Insurance Cover My White or Silver Filling?
Your dental insurance coverage will typically cover either a white or silver filling to replace your tooth as long as it’s not a recent replacement. Sachem Dental Group has excellent insurance coordinators on our team to help you understand all of your insurance benefits. We can give you a pretty accurate estimate of what your co-pay will be with either treatment. Even if one plan pays more for a specific type of filling, the difference may not be significant enough to mean you only have one option.
Don’t Delay Your Dental Filling
Cavities can’t always be seen. We often rely on x-rays to show us decay between your teeth, or under crowns and old fillings. If left untreated, cavities continue to grow and can cause a significant amount of pain, as well as physical damage to the overall tooth. Let us know if you’re experiencing symptoms such as sweet sensitivity or tenderness when you bite down and apply pressure on that tooth.
Placing a small and minimally-invasive filling as early as decay is diagnosed can prevent spread of the infection into adjacent teeth. Most importantly, it limits the risk of the infection reaching your dental nerve and causing an abscess (at that point, a root canal and crown would be a must.) At a certain point, cavities may become too large to place a white filling and a silver version will be your only option.
Get a Professional Opinion
Call Sachem Dental right away. We’ll perform a thorough examination of your mouth and construct a treatment plan for you, based on your personal needs and preferences. Our excellent team is standing by to help you every step of the way. Come and see us today!