How to Avoid Getting Tooth Fillings

It is very rare that young people have fillings in their teeth but given time, what we eat and how we look after our teeth can contribute to a breakdown in the health of our teeth and provide a path for bacteria followed by decay. If you brush carefully and floss regularly, it is possible to avoid needing a filling but for most of us, sooner or later a filling will be required to patch a weak or damaged section of tooth to prevent further decay.

There are several types fillings however we have listed the two most common below.

• Dental amalgams
  Dental amalgams are the most inexpensive and therefore the most common form filling. Also known as silver fillings, dental amalgams are a typically a mixture of mercury (45 to 50 percent), and an alloy of silver, tin, and copper (50 to 55 percent). Although this kind of filling contains mercury, the chemical make up of the metal changes when mixed with the other metals and it is deemed safe to use in the body. If you have any personal doubts as to the safety of silver fillings, there is another option, which is listed below.
  

• Composite resins
  A composite resin is a white plastic mixture filled with glass (silicon dioxide) that can be made to look much the same colour as your natural teeth. Obviously there are cosmetic benefits to having fillings that are largely unnoticeable and composite resin fillings are also used for cosmetic corrections such as uneven teeth or colouring.
  

What are your options for restoring a damaged smile?

• porcelain veneer - a ceramic material is bonded to the front surface of teeth to change the tooth's color, size, and/or shape.

• crown - if you have badly damaged a tooth where a substantial part of the tooth breaks away and/or have had root canal therapy on a tooth, you can get a crown or "cap" to cover the damaged tooth and make up the lost bulk. A crown helps to prevent against fractures in these tooth and therefore, avoid a possible extraction.

Stanhope Dental Centre - Dr Selina Leow