DENTAL FILLINGS WILMINGTON, NC

Types of Dental Fillings Available

The way to determine the proper dental bonding for you incorporates factors like your allergies to any of the materials, where in your mouth the filling will be, the amount of repair required, or the cost of the procedure. Here are the five options to choose from with the dentist for your filling:

Amalgam is half mercury and the remainder is a combination of silver, tin and copper. This office does not provide amalgam fillings.

Composite resin is a combination of plastic and finely ground glass pieces; it is not as expensive as cast gold or ceramic. In recent years there has been concern about the heart risks of plastics, our office uses BPA-Free resins. Composite resin fillings should remain in place for at least five years.

• Pros: the ability to match the color of your teeth, fillings can be completed in one dental appointment, strong adhesion to the tooth, and ability to be combined with other filling materials.
• Cons: the increased cost, the material is more likely to wear even with the more recent advancements with the material, and require longer appointment times due the proper application process requiring layers to ensure proper and snug fits.

Cast Gold is composed of gold and other metals to form a gold alloy. This material can last more than 15 years.

• Pros: the more appealing color of gold versus the silver tone to the amalgam, gold is resistant to corrosion, and the strength is highest of all the filling materials.
• Cons: multiple appointments with the dentist for an impression and placement, the high cost of the gold, the visibility of the gold and should the gold filling be placed next to an amalgam filling your mouth will experience “galvanic shock” or an electric charge.

Ceramic fillings are composed of mostly porcelain and cost you more than composite resin. They should last you at least seven years.

• Pros: tooth color of the material, higher resistance to wear and discoloration over time than composite resin.
• Cons: the brittle nature of the material and the requirement that the material be of a certain size to reduce the likelihood of breaking and the potential decreased size of the tooth.

Glass ionomer is composed of a glass ingredient, fluoroaluminosilicate, and acrylic. When this material is used with resin, it performs at its strongest and most resilient. The filling of glass ionomer should last more than five years and the costs are comparable to composite resin.

• Pros: matching your tooth color, the giving off of fluoride, and seamless adhesion to your tooth.
• Cons: the likelihood that the filling will wear or break due to its weak nature and longer appointment times due the proper application process requiring layers to ensure proper and snug fits.

Cost of Dental / Tooth Fillings

Costs for each procedure vary depending on how long the procedure takes, what materials the procedure requires, how many visits the procedure requires, and the amount of work the dentist is required to do. It may surprise you to know, but dental insurance may cover some of the costs for these as well as elective procedures as they lead to improved overall dental health and long term benefits. If you do not have dental insurance coverage or you have any questions about payment options for your treatment plan, you are more than welcome to talk to our staff at any time. Your budget’s health is just as important as your mouth’s health.