Dental fillings play a crucial role in maintaining oral health, from addressing cavities to restoring damaged teeth.

It can be tempting to simply assume that "a filling is a filling." This could not be further from the truth. Based on aesthetic,  functional, or budgetary reasons, any one of a few dental fillings may be called for in a particular situation. The more we know about the different types of dental fillings and their optimal applications, the better equipped we will be to make a confident and informed decision when needed.

To this end, we present this comprehensive guide to dental fillings. We'll discuss everything you need to know about dental fillings: the materials used, the situations in which each is more appropriate, the longevity of different types of fillings, and what makes our team here at Edmond Dental Center the best in the Edmond, OK, area for reliably top-quality care.

What Are Dental Fillings and How Do They Protect Teeth?

In essence, dental fillings are quick-drying cement prepared and applied by a dentist to cavities, minor cracks, decay, or other damage on the surfaces of teeth. Fillings serve to restore a tooth's shape and strength while also protecting it from further damage.

Dental filling procedures are very straightforward and rarely require more than a single appointment. Here is a brief start-to-finish breakdown:

• During a dental exam (either routine or the result of discomfort for the patient), the dentist determines that certain mild to moderate dental damage must be repaired with a dental filling.
• The procedure begins with the dentist removing the damage from the surface of a tooth and creating a small pocket into which the filing material will be applied.
• At this point, your dentist prepares the filling mixture and promptly uses it to fill this pocket.
• Once the cement-like filling material is hardened, it restores your tooth's natural shape and function while also acting as a barrier against bacteria by sealing your tooth's most vulnerable areas.

What Are Dental Fillings Made Of?

Dental fillings can be comprised of a variety of materials. The material used for a particular filling usually depends on multiple factors, including the tooth's location in the mouth, the extent of the damage, and a patient's budget.

For less visible teeth, amalgam fillings, consisting of a combination of metals like silver, tin, and copper, are popular. Though they're not aesthetically pleasing, amalgam fillings are extremely durable and affordable. However, tooth-colored fillings are an excellent way to restore both aesthetics and functionality for more prominently located teeth.

Tooth-colored fillings are popular in cosmetic dentistry for restoring a tooth's form and function as any fillings would while also blending seamlessly with existing natural teeth to restore the natural look of a person's smile. Tooth-colored fillings are usually made from a mixture of glass or quartz and either composite resin or porcelain.

Porcelain tooth-colored fillings offer the dual advantages of excellent durability and aesthetics. Their trade-off is that they tend to be among the priciest dental filling options. Meanwhile, Composite resin tooth-colored fillings are sometimes less durable than their porcelain counterparts and amalgam. On the bright side, they are highly amenable to shading to match the color of natural teeth and are a more budget-friendly option than porcelain.

How Long Do Dental Fillings Last?

Estimates of dental filling longevity can vary significantly based on numerous factors, including the type of material used, the tooth's location in the mouth, the patient's dietary and dental hygiene habits, and potential exposure to damage via contact sports or teeth-grinding. However, we can reasonably expect any well-applied and properly cared-for filling to last for at least a few years or more.

Generally, fillings comprised of silver amalgam, gold, and ceramic have the longest lifespan, often lasting 15 years or more. Among tooth-colored fillings, porcelain offers the greatest longevity, with a lifespan of up to 15 years with proper care. Composite resin tooth-colored fillings, meanwhile, tend to have a lifespan of between 5–7 years.

Consult with your dentist to determine the type of dental filling best suited to your specific needs.

Top-Quality Cosmetic Dentistry and Dental Fillings in Edmond, OK

If you're in Edmond and looking for a dental practice with experience and expertise in the precise restoration of our patients' radiant smiles using a full selection of traditional and tooth-colored dental fillings and a comprehensive range of cosmetic dentistry treatments, contact me, Dr. Michael Chandler and the friendly and knowledgeable Edmond Dental Center team to schedule an appointment!