What Type Of Filling Should I Get For My Tooth?
Getting a filling is a common procedure that takes place after removing cavities or doing root canals. The fillings come in a variety of materials, and as such, a variety of prices. Because fillings have different strengths and weaknesses, your dentist will probably suggest what types you can use, but you will generally still have multiple options to choose from. Among things to consider when selecting a filling type are the severity of your cavities, where they are located and how much drilling you want done during the process.
Where Are Your Cavities?
When thinking about where your cavities are, there are two important things to consider.
- Where they are located in your mouth. If it's a cavity visible to others, composite fillings can be used to match the color of your teeth. The catch is that composite fillings are typically more expensive and don't last as long because of the materials used, like porcelain and plastic. With cavities near the back of your mouth, you don't need to worry as much about what the filling looks like and may want to focus more on longevity.
- Where on the tooth are the cavities located? The tops of molars may benefit from amalgam fillings because they're under more stress, while the front surfaces of your incisors could use composite fillings. Amalgam fillings are more durable and often last longer, so they can deal with the direct pressure of constant chewing. Composite fillings don't typically last as long, but because they're used often in low-stress areas, it's safer to use composite fillings where it can benefit your appearance.
How Severe Are Your Cavities?
Many cosmetic fillings can only be used on small or medium-sized cavities because of the way they are bonded to your teeth. You may need to get something like gold or silver amalgam for major cavities. They may not look as pretty, but they get the job done, and having any type of filling is better than no filling at all.
What's Your Comfort Level?
Fillings work mostly the same regardless of what kind you get, but there's one main difference: While composite fillings set and are ready for normal use immediately, an amalgam filling will need at least 24 hours to set before you can chew with it. This is a short amount of time in the life of a filling, but if you're squeamish about dental work and can pay a little extra for your comfort, a composite filling is the better choice.
What Is Your Budget?
As you may imagine, options that look better often end up more expensive. If you want a cheaper option, look for metal amalgams. Aside from being inexpensive, they're also pretty durable.
As always, you can talk to a dentist, such as Ginger Scoggins DDS, about how much you are able to afford and what you hope to gain from your fillings. If budgeting is an issue, he or she may be able to set you up on a payment plan.
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