All you need to know about Tooth Filling

If you visited a good dentist to get a dental cavity or chipped tooth treated, most likely, they would have recommended a dental filling as the solution. Tooth fillings or dental fillings are one of the most common and effective solutions for dental cavities and damaged teeth.

There are various types of dental fillings available, each one made of different materials and having its own pros and cons. This blog post discusses everything you would want to know about tooth fillings, right from, what are tooth fillings, tooth filling types, tooth filling process, cost of tooth fillings, after-care, etc. Let's learn more about tooth fillings in this blog including types, procedure, cost, aftercare, and FAQs. Let's dive in!

What is a Tooth Filling?

Let's start with the basics. What is a tooth filling? A tooth filling is used to repair tooth that has been damaged by dental cavity, decay or has cracks or minor fractures. When a cavity forms, your dentist removes the decayed portion of the tooth and fills the space with a suitable material to prevent further decay and restore function. Tooth fillings are a way to salvage the damaged tooth and prevent further deterioration. There are many types of tooth fillings available. You can choose the dental filling that's right for you based on different factors, such as the location of the tooth that needs the filling, the kind of filling you are most comfortable with and your budget for the dental filling.

Tooth Filling Types

There are five types of tooth fillings that are popularly used. They are-

1. Amalgam tooth fillings
2. Composite tooth fillings
3. Gold tooth fillings
4. Ceramic or Porcelain tooth fillings
5. Glass ionomer or glass powder tooth fillings

Let's now dive into the different types of dental fillings and their pros and cons, so you can choose the dental filling type that's right for you.

What Are Amalgam Tooth Fillings?

Understanding Amalgam Dental Fillings

Amalgam tooth fillings are a mix of mercury, silver, tin and copper. One of the most obvious problems with amalgam dental fillings is their color and how they stand out unnaturally. Also, Amalgam tooth filling doesn't bond with the tooth. The dentists have to create an undercut or a 'gap hole' in the tooth and place the amalgam tooth filling inside it-kind of like plugging the hole they just created. As a result you lose more of your natural teeth to create that space for the amalgam dental filling to fit into like a jig-saw puzzle. Mercury is a key ingredient in amalgam tooth fillings. While amalgam tooth fillings are generally considered safe, with tooth-colored fillings you can avoid mercury altogether. Pregnant or breastfeeding women, children under six years of age and people with kidney issues are generally discouraged from getting amalgam dental fillings. Amalgam dental fillings can last for as long as 15 years.

What Are Composite Tooth Fillings?

Understanding Composite Dental Fillings

Tooth-coloured fillings are also known as composite dental fillings. These tooth fillings, as the name suggests, match the color of your teeth precisely, so they don't stick out like a sore thumb…or should we say, sore tooth! Tooth-coloured dental fillings are made from plastic and fine glass particles.

One of the major advantages of choosing a tooth-colored dental filling is,obviously, its aesthetic appeal- its ability to blend with your teeth. This is especially important if your filling is in a tooth or area of the mouth that is clearly visible when you smile, or open your mouth to talk or eat. Since our smile is a key element of our overall personality and appearance, having a composite tooth filling instead of the traditional, amalgam dental filling can boost our confidence by making it discreet.

The second advantage of using a composite tooth filling is the preservation of tooth structure. Tooth coloured dental fillings are composite and bond with your existing tooth and fill the gap automatically. As a result, more of the natural tooth structure is preserved. Because tooth-colored composite dental fillings bond with the tooth and look natural, they are a great option to fix not just cavities but also for fixing dental cracks, chipped, broken or worn teeth.

Typically, composite dental fillings last for about 7 years.

What Are Gold Tooth Fillings?

Understanding Gold Alloy (Cast Gold) Dental Fillings

Gold fillings, as the name suggests are made of cast gold or gold alloy.This type of tooth filling is best for molars and back teeth.Gold tooth fillings are extremely durable. They are non-corrosive and can last for as long as 30 years. However, they are expensive and also highly visible, as the golden color stands out vividly from the color of the teeth.

What Are Porcelain Tooth Fillings?

Understanding Porcelain (Ceramic) Dental Fillings

Porcelain tooth fillings, also known as ceramic dental fillings, are made of porcelain. Patients who want their fillings to have a natural look often opt for ceramic dental fillings. Porcelain or ceramic tooth fillings look very aesthetic, are largely stain resistant and last for as long as 15 years. Porcelain tooth fillings are more brittle and also more expensive in comparison to composite and amalgam tooth fillings.

What Are Glass Ionomer Tooth Fillings?

Understanding Glass Ionomer (Glass Powder) Dental Fillings

Glass ionomer or glass powder dental fillings are made of acrylic and fluoroaluminosilicate (glass powder). They are best suited for non-load bearing areas, tooth fillings in children or for temporary use. One of the best things about Glass Ionomer dental fillings is that it releases fluoride, which helps prevent further decay. Like composite dental fillings, even glass ionomer tooth fillings bond well with teeth. However, they are less durable and tend to wear down or crack under pressure. Glass lonomer dental fillings have a typical lifespan of 3-5 years.

• Cons: Less durable, may wear down or crack under pressure.

Dental Filling Aftercare: Making your tooth fillings last longer

Now, let's discuss how long tooth-colored, composite dental fillings typically last. In terms of durability, tooth-colored, composite dental fillings don't do as well as the traditional amalgam tooth fillings. While amalgam tooth fillings can last for 10 to 15 years, the average life of tooth-colored dental fillings is around 5 to 8 years. However, with proper care, even composite fillings (tooth-colored dental fillings) are capable of lasting longer than 10 years. Here are a few precautions you can take to ensure your composite tooth fillings last longer:

1. Avoid Hard or Sticky Foods: Tooth fillings can get damaged if you consume a lot of hard or sticky foods. Examples include biting down on hard candies, ice cubes, popcorn kernels or consuming sticky toffees and chewing gum. This can cause the filling to chip or loosen. You can use the opposite side of your mouth when biting into such items.
2. Maintain Good Dental Hygiene: Irrespective of whether you have dental fillings or not, you should maintain good dental hygiene, but, particularly so, if you have tooth fillings. Brush your teeth twice a day with a soft toothbrush and floss at least once a day so no food particles are stuck between teeth and also to avoid plaque build up, which can cause further damage. Make sure your toothpaste has fluoride in it and also, ensure that it is non-abrasive. Some "Whitening" or "tartar control" toothpastes are rough and can wear down the edges of your dental fillings.
3. Use a Mouthguard: If you have the habit of grinding your teeth,when you sleep, make sure you wear a mouthguard when you sleep. Grinding your teeth not only puts pressure on your teeth and damages them, but also on your tooth coloured fillings causing them to crack, break or come loose.
4. Limit Staining Foods and Drinks: Tooth fillings are stain-resistant. However, they are not completely stain-proof. If you have a lot of black coffee, red wine, tea, etc, or smoke cigarettes or cigars, it could affect the color of your dental filling.
5. Don't Use Teeth as Tools: Remember it is your tooth, not a bottle-opener! Never use your teeth to open bottles and packets…and don't chew on pens and pencils! It damages your teeth and also tooth fillings if you have them!
6. Schedule Regular Dental Checkups: Schedule regular dental checkups at a trusted dental clinic near you. Visiting a dental clinic regularly and getting your teeth and dental fillings checked by a trusted dentist brings any dental problem to light before it becomes serious.
7. Don't ignore toothache or sensitivity: Have you ever experienced tooth sensitivity when you sip on a steaming hot cup of coffee, or are enjoying a scoop of your favorite ice cream? Or, maybe a sudden pain in a tooth when you bit on something crunchy, like, say, an apple? If you answered YES to any of the above questions, it's time to visit a trusted dental clinic near you as soon as you can. If you experience pain and sensitivity in the tooth that has a dental filling, it could indicate a damaged tooth filling or decay around the dental filling.

FAQs About Dental Fillings

1. How much does a dental filling typically cost?

The cost of dental fillings depends on how complex the cavity is, and of course the type of dental filling you opt for. As discussed in this blog post, there are five types of dental fillings and the cost varies based on which one you choose. For example, gold fillings are the most expensive ones-for obvious reasons! Amalgam fillings, on the other hand, are the cheapest.

2. How is dental filling done? Explain the dental filling process.

If you are going for a dental filling for the first time, it is natural to feel curious and even a little anxious. So, here's a quick overview of the dental filling process. Your dentist will apply a local anaesthetic to numb your gums and then, maybe give you a more powerful local anaesthetic via an injection on your gums. This is done to ensure you don't feel any sensation around the area where the tooth filling is going to happen. Then, they will carefully remove the decayed portion of your tooth, clean it, and fill the cavity with the dental filling of your choice. You won't need multiple visits to the dental clinic as tooth fillings are completed in a single visit.

3. Is getting a tooth filling painful?

Like we said before, it is perfectly normal to feel anxious or worried about pain if you are getting a tooth filling for the first time. But, more often than not, getting a tooth filling is not painful. If you have the right dentist, getting a tooth filling is, at most, a minor inconvenience, but certainly not painful. You may feel some pressure and slight sensitivity in and around the area of the dental filling after the effect of the anesthetic wears off, but it would be very mild and resolves within a few hours.

4. Is getting a dental filling really good for your dental health?

Of course! If you have tooth decay and cavities, dental filling is the first and easiest step to fix them. If you don't get a tooth filling done to fix your decayed tooth or dental cavity, the decay can spread, result in a dental infection and you may end up needed a root canal at a later stage, or may even lose your tooth.

5. How long does the dental filling procedure take?

The exact time taken for a dental filling depends on the extent of damage that needs to be fixed and also where the damage is. For example, if the tooth or the area that needs to be filled is easily accessible, the tooth filling procedure will take lesser time than for one that's at the back, or not just as easily accessible. The typical time taken for a dental filling varies between 30 to 45 minutes.

6. Are dental fillings covered by Medicare or Dental Insurance in Australia?

Dental insurance covers tooth filling procedure costs. While Medicare doesn't typically cover dental filings for adults, it does cover dental fillings for children aged between 2-17 years. Dental fillings are covered under the Child Dental Benefits Schedule (CDBS). The maximum amount covered under this benefit scheme is $1,132 over two calendar years for basic dental treatments which includes tooth filling.

7. What's the difference between a tooth filling and a root canal?

There's a lot of difference between a tooth filling and a root canal. As discussed before, a dental filling is the first step to treating tooth decay. If the tooth decay is still in the early stages and hasn't caused an infection or reached the tooth's nerve, your dentist will resort to tooth filling to fix it. Dental filling is less complex than a root canal and as discussed before, it doesn't usually take more than one or two sittings. A root canal, on the other hand, becomes necessary when the decay has gone deeper into the tooth and caused an infection in the tooth nerve or pulp. A root canal is a more extensive procedure, requires multiple sittings and may even require a crown afterwards.

Looking for a trusted dental clinic in Tarneit for dental filling? Visit us at Dazzling Smiles Dental!

If you're experiencing tooth sensitivity, pain, or think you may need a tooth filling, don't wait! Book an appointment with Dazzling Smiles Dental today!

You can call us at (03) 9069 3884 to book your dental filling appointment by phone.

You can also book a tooth filling appointment online on our website by clicking here (Link to https://www.dazzlingsmilestarneit.com.au/contact-us)

We are located at: Tarneit Central Shopping Centre, Shop T21/540 Derrimut Rd, Tarneit VIC 3029, Australia

A Healthy Smile is only a Call Away!

Don't let cavities steal the charm of your smile! Book an appointment with Dazzling Smiles Dental today and take the first step towards a healthier, brighter smile.