A filling is a way to restore the normal functioning and shape of a decayed tooth. Dentists remove the decayed part of tooth, cleanse it and fill the cleaned out cavity with affected area. The moment someone tells about tooth-filling, silver-filling strikes our minds. Filling prevents the bacteria from entering the space, preventing further decay.
Normally silver or gold material was used for filling the decayed part, but now day’s composite resin is used in filling the tooth. Composite resin is tooth colored filling that gives best possible effect to tooth.
Gold fillings are considered the best medium for filling because gold offers least resistance from tooth and gums and produce long lasting effect, sometimes even up to 20yrs. It is expensive and needs more than two visits.
Silver Fillings are resistant to wear and inexpensive. They are noticeable by others due to their dark color. They can only be used for back teeth due to their color.
Composite resin filling: can be matched with tooth-color to provide the same color as your teeth. Natural looking composite fillings are placed directly into the cavity, where they harden to fill the decayed space. They are short-lived because they wear and tear with time and sometimes stain from coffee, tea or tobacco.
Porcelain filling is inlays and outlays, which are matched to the tooth and are made to order in a lab. Porcelain filling is matched with color of tooth and resists staining. The main drawback is their cost almost equivalent to gold filling.
In case the decay or damage has affected a large portion of tooth, then crown is recommended to replace the portion of tooth. Generally root canal therapy or pulp-capping are used to treat the tooth and cover it with reliable tooth color filling.
It is not possible for a patient to detect whether he/she needs a filling. Dentists use a small mirror to examine each and every tooth, when a patient complains of tooth-ache. Abnormal looking tooth will be examined closely for the extent of damage or decay of tooth. Accordingly the dentists treat the tooth and fill it with the filling as per the choice and budget of people.
Tooth colored filling are generally costly but produces best effects for the person concerned. It needs special care and maintenance. Patients who are addicted to tobacco or coffee should either limit their consumption or opt for the most expensive porcelain filling to maintain originality.
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