All You Wanted to Know About Dental Fillings

General Dentistry

Treating a cavity basically consists of removing tooth decay and then placing a material into the area where the decay was. This is called a filling. There are four types of filling material that can be used;

Gold
Porcelain
Silver amalgam
Composite resin

Gold fillings are expensive! They often cost ten times more than a composite resin filling. These fillings require two visits to the dentist to be completed.

Porcelain fillings also require two visits to the dentist. The bonding material used in the process is brittle and can crack if not applied correctly. These fillings are also costly.

Silver amalgam fillings were common in the past but dentists and patients learned that over time the fillings turned black. When taking out the decay, a larger area of the tooth had to be removed. This added extra time to the tooth preparation.

At Westborough Dental we use composite resin fillings for our patients. Our professional dentists prefer to use this type of material for our patients as they know;

It takes minimal tooth preparation.
It’s strong
It’s durable
It’s aesthetically pleasing
It’s cost effective

A composite resin filling can withstand pressure from chewing and actually supports the tooth structure. It also provides insulation for the tooth when food or drinks with extreme temperatures are consumed. These fillings are acceptable for both children and adults.

Call Westborough Dental today and find out if a composite resin filling will work for you.