Dental fillings are a part of the general dentistry services offered by Barry E. Bubar D.D.S. Family, Cosmetic and Implant Dentistry. Fillings can restore tooth damage that is usually a result of decay. Fillings will bring your teeth back to normal functionality and shape. Before your cavity is filled, decayed tooth material must be removed, the affected area must be cleaned, and then the area must be protected with a filling material.
What are fillings made of?
After this vulnerable space is sealed off, your filling will prevent further decay. Dental fillings can be made from a number of everyday materials including porcelain, and composite resin (which are tooth-colored materials used for fillings), and also amalgam (an alloy of mercury, silver, copper, tin and sometimes zinc.) Amalgam fillings are used less and less due to some patient’s concerns over mercury and also because there are more lifelike tooth colored materials available.
- Gold fillings or Inlays & Onlays — These types of fillings are made to order and cemented into place. Gold inlays or onlays can really go the distance, lasting over 20 years, because they are well supported by the tooth and other oral tissues. Many industry insiders consider gold to be the best material used for fillings. Just the same, gold is often the highest-priced material used for fillings, and will also require multiple visits.
- Amalgam — These silver fillings are resistant to wear and decay and appeal to patients since silver fillings are relatively inexpensive. Amalgam fillings are often more noticeable than other options because of their silver or dark grey color but can last for more than 20 years.
- Composite — These types of fillings are made of plastic and resins that are matched to your teeth. Composite fillings are beautiful and can restore the tooth’s natural appearance. The ingredients that make up composite fillings are premixed by the manufacturer, then placed precisely into the cavity, where they harden when exposed to a blue light which takes a matter of seconds to a few minutes. Composite fillings do have limitations. They can wear as time goes on, and can also become stained, can leak and have a recurrence of decay tending not to be as resilient as other options. Composite fillings can last anywhere from 7-10 years.
- Porcelain fillings — These are often called onlays or inlays, which are made to order in a lab, fabricated and then bonded to the tooth. Like composite fillings, porcelain fillings can match original tooth color, and they have the added bonus of being stain-resistant. What sets a porcelain onlay restoration apart from other options is that it generally covers some or all of the chewing surface.
We take pride in offering a place where entire families can focus on and protect their oral health. In our experience, our patients like dealing with people they know, people who hold themselves accountable for a patient’s well-being. That takes trust. That takes commitment. Dr. Bubar is in the business of keeping patients in the very best of hands. We will always prefer to take care of your needs in-house but won’t hesitate to refer you to the best specialists for oral surgery or root canal treatment or orthodontics if Dr. Bubar feels it is best for you. Contact Barry E. Bubar D.D.S. Family, Cosmetic and Implant Dentistry to learn more about how fillings can help save your teeth today.