Fillings
Dental Fillings Sydney
Can you feel a hole in your tooth? If so, it’s likely that you may need a filling to prevent further decay. Sublime Dental® offer professional and affordable fillings to suit you and your budget.
What Is A Dental Filling?
A filling is designed to restore a decayed and damaged tooth from further decay, and repair the tooth to normal function and shape. When you receive a filling, the dentist will first remove the decayed tooth material, clean the affected area, and then fill the cavity. By closing off the affected area with a filling, it will help prevent bacteria from entering and causing further decay.
Filling Materials
There are several materials used for fillings such as gold, porcelain, composite resin (tooth coloured fillings), and an amalgamation of an alloy of mercury, silver, copper, tin and sometimes zinc.
Gold Fillings
Gold is considered to be a very sturdy material to use for fillings as they can last more than 20 years and are well tolerated by gum tissues. Gold fillings are made to order in a laboratory and then fixed into place by your dentist. Because gold fillings are so robust, they are considered to be one of the best materials and usually the most expensive as they may require multiple visits.
Silver Fillings
An amalgamation of metals, also known as silver fillings, are quite resistant to wear and are relatively inexpensive. Although, due to the dark colouration of the filling, they’re more noticeable than porcelain or composite resins, and shouldn’t be used in highly visible areas such as the front teeth.
Composite Fillings
Composite or ‘plastic’ resins are specifically colour matched to your teeth and provide a more natural appearance. To fix a composite filling, the resin ingredients are mixed and placed directly into the freshly cleaned cavity to harden. Composite fillings may not be ideal for large fillings because they have a tendency to chip and wear over time. These types of fillings can also become stained from coffee, tea, tobacco or dark coloured food and drinks. They also typically don’t last as long as other types of fillings and may last from three to ten years.
Porcelain Fillings
Porcelain fillings are also known as inlays or onlays and just like composite fillings, these can also be colour matched to your own teeth. Porcelain fillings are more robust than composite fillings as the porcelain can resist staining. Porcelain fillings are made to order in a laboratory and then bonded to your tooth. A porcelain filling generally covers a majority of the tooth and therefore the cost is similar to a gold filling.
What Type Of Filling Do I Need?
As there are so many types of fillings, you may be wondering which is right for you? No one filling is best for everyone, and your dentist can determine the type of filling you require after an initial consultation. The cost associated with a filling with ultimately depends on the size and extent of the repair, and if you have allergies to certain materials where the filling is needed. If decay or a fracture has damaged a large portion of the tooth, a dental crown may be recommended, or if the decay is at a very advanced stage and has reached the nerve, it may be treated by root canal therapy.