DENTAL FILLINGS
A dental filling is used to repair a tooth. There are many reasons why a patient may need a filling, for example:
- Damage from decay (dental caries)
- A fracture from trauma
- Tooth hypersensitivity from abrasion or erosion
- A developmental defect requiring repair
- To replace an old or leaking filling
- To alter a tooth’s colour or shape to improve aesthetics
There are three types of fillings: composite, glass ionomer resin cement (GIC) and amalgam.
COMPOSITE FILLINGS
Composite fillings are fillings made from a tooth coloured material comprised of a mixture of glass and plastic particles. Composite is the most aesthetic filling material which blends seamlessly with tooth structure.
Composite is applied to a tooth in small increments and set with a curing light. Composite forms a strong bond to tooth structure so we do not need to remove any more tooth than is necessary compared to amalgam which requires slots and grooves for retention. A new variety of composite with glass fibre reinforcement has been developed to prevent crack propagation, prolonging the longevity of a large composite filling. When a composite filling comprises more than half of a tooth, a ceramic crown or onlay is recommended for best long-term longevity.
GLASS IONOMER RESIN CEMENT (GIC) FILLINGS
A glass ionomer filling comes in a variety of colours but is not as aesthetic and has half the bond strength of a composite filling. Glass ionomer chemically bonds to the tooth in a different way to composite by replacing some of the calcium and phosphate ions in your tooth. The advantage of a glass ionomer filling is its ability to store and slowly release a small amount of fluoride over time. This filling material is relatively weak but is good as a temporary filling or for treating patients who are at a high risk of dental decay (caries).
AMALGAM FILLINGS
Amalgam fillings or silver fillings are a mixture of metals (mainly silver, tin and copper) and a little mercury. The amalgam material is very robust, however, most dentists and patients prefer composite fillings due to better aesthetics.
Amalgam fillings require slightly more tooth removal than composite and glass ionomer / GIC fillings to create retention groove and slots to ‘wedge’ the amalgam filling into place. There is controversy over the presence of mercury in amalgam, however there is no scientific evidence to indicate that mercury leaks from an amalgam filling.
If you would like to arrange your initial consultation or if you wish to understand more about our dental fillings please contact us at our Bethlehem, Mount Maunganui, Papamoa or Te Puke practices.