Tooth Fillings

In today’s dental practice there are two main types of filling material.  Amalgam vs. Composite.  Dr. Evans mainly places composite filling but it isn’t always possible and we have to place an amalgam filling, below are some pros and cons to each material so that you the patient can be informed and make the best decision for yourself.

Silver Fillings:

Silver fillings have many drawbacks. The edges of the silver filling can wear down, become weak or break. This results in the tooth not being protected and lets cavities get started once again. With age, the metal of a silver filling expands, contracts, and can split and fracture your tooth.
 Silver fillings are not sensitive to moisture or bonding areas like composite fillings, and are sometimes best suited for deep root caries where there may be a lot of moisture and not enough enamel for bonding. 

 

Tooth-Colored Restorations:

There are many advantages to tooth-colored restorations.   Tooth colored restorations/composite fillings are bonded to tooth enamel, we don’t have cut as much tooth to prepare for the placement of this material.   Composite is a moisture sensitive material and bonds best to enamel, we don’t always have the best conditions for this material so we utilize the aid of a rubber dam to help keep saliva away from the working area.

Large Tooth Colored Restorations

If an old silver restoration is too big we will replace it with a porcelain  onlay.  Onlays are bonded to the teeth creating a tight, superior fit to the natural tooth. Such restorations can be used in instances where much of the tooth structure has been lost. The tooth remains intact and stronger.  We can remove less tooth structure due to the bonding properties as opposed to amalgam that is held in placed by retention.  This process will take 2 appointments:

Your First Appointment:

  • The old filling is removed along with any additional decay.
  • An impression is made of your teeth.
  • A model of your teeth is made and sent to the lab.  A temporary onlay is placed on the tooth.

Your Second Appointment: 

  • The temporary onlay is removed.  
  • A conditioning gel is placed on your tooth to prepare it for the new onlay.
  • Bonding cement is placed on the tooth and a high intensity light bonds the resin to the tooth. The tooth is then polished.

Your teeth are restored to a natural look and feel, they are stronger and the tooth is protected!