What are Dental Fillings made of?

Dental fillings are used to fill gaps or holes in damaged or broken teeth. Dental fillings may be needed to support injured teeth, for example if part of the enamel has been chipped off. Fillings are useful to restore stability and shape, and prevent a damaged tooth from becoming infected or damaged further. If you’re looking for dental fillings in 

Mesquite TX, North Mesquite Dental Group can help.

What type of materials are used for dental fillings?

Many different types of materials are used for dental fillings, so let’s take a look at some of the most common materials.

Composite resin: composite resin fillings are made of a combination of plastic resin and glass. These filings are usually tooth-colored and designed to look natural. The good thing about composite fillings is that they release fluoride (in small amounts) which can help to protect your teeth. Another benefit of composite resin fillings is that they provide a natural look. 

Silver amalgam fillings: Silver filings (or silver amalgam) are made with a combination of mercury and silver. These filings are popular because they are considered the most durable type of filing. The main benefit of silver fillings is that they can last between 10 and 15 years without needing to be replaced.

Gold filings: Gold alloy fillings are made with a mixture of copper and gold. These are highly durable, however they can be a little more expensive than other options. Some people prefer the appearance of gold filings, it all just depends on your taste!

Nickel: Nickel filings contain a mixture of chromium and nickel, sometimes this material is used to fix crowns. Like silver filings, these tend to be durable.

Lonomer cement: Ionomer cement is a mixture of organic acid and glass, like composite resin, these filings are tooth colored. If you require a smaller filing, it’s likely that your dentist will use glass ionomer cement.

Is having a filling fitted painful? 

No, having a filing fitted is a comfortable procedure. After your filing is fitted you’ll experience less pain (now that your problem tooth is restored)! Your dentist will use a local anesthetic to numb the area and ensure that the procedure is pain free.

Dental fillings in Mesquite, TX 

At North Mesquite Dental we can provide long-lasting filings in many different materials. The main types of filings that we provide are composite fillings are amalgam fillings. After years of experience we have concluded that these two types of filings are the best for both comfort and durability. The process of having a dental filling fitted is very simple. With one visit to our dentistry, our expert dentists will remove the decayed part of your tooth, clean the area, and fill it. As a final step, our dentist will harden the filing for a long lasting restoration. If you have any further questions about dental fillings, we are ready and waiting to answer them. At North Mesquite Dental we also offer dental services such as Dental Crowning, Dental Bonds, Root Canal Treatment and more.