Taking Care of Cavities (3/4)
Kinds of fillings
Metal Fillings
Dental Amalgam Fillings
These are sometimes called "silver" fillings. They are the most common kind of filling used in Canada today. Because these fillings are silver in colour, they are used to fill back teeth. They are a mix of metals such as mercury, silver, copper and tin.
Pros:
- These are the least expensive type of filling.
- They last a long time.
- They are easy to put in place. (Since they are a direct filling, one visit to your dentist will do the job, in most cases.)
Cons:
- The silver colour may not appeal to people who want a "natural" look.
- Tiny amounts of mercury are released from the filling when you chew. For most people, this is nothing to worry about. Studies have shown that amalgam fillings do not cause illness. They have been used on people for more than 150 years.
- Health Canada has advised that pregnant women in need of a filling may want to wait until the baby is born before they go ahead. Your dentist can suggest other kinds of fillings, if the work is urgent.
Cast Gold Fillings
These are based on a model (or cast) of your tooth. Cast gold fillings are a mixture of gold with other metals such as silver and copper. These other metals make gold fillings more durable.
A cast gold filling is made in a dental lab and sent back to your dentist, who cements it in place in your mouth. You will need at least 2 visits to the dentist to get the job done.
During the first visit, your dentist cleans out all the decay and makes a mold of your tooth. The hole is filled with a temporary filling. Meanwhile in a dental lab, the mold of your tooth is used to make a model. A filling that is the same size and shape as your tooth is built based on the model. When you go back to the dentist a couple of weeks later, your dentist cements the gold filling in place.
Pros:
- Gold is stronger than amalgam.
- Gold fillings last a long time.
Cons:
- Gold costs more than other kinds of fillings.
- Gold fillings and crowns are indirect fillings, so they take at least 2 appointments.
- The gold colour may not appeal to people who want a "natural" look.
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Dr. Molly Rodgers, General Dentist - Providing services in cosmetic dentistry to the area of Edmonton Alberta, Canada.
