Gold is the best material for filling and restoring teeth. It fits the tooth more accurately than other filling materials and wears more like the enamel of teeth. Today, it is mainly used in areas where there is limited space and in cases of bruxism. Gold would be good for crowns on posterior teeth where esthetics is not a concern.
Dental Fillings
To stop a cavity from expanding and spreading decay, it is necessary to fill the hole with a filling. A dental filling, which may be placed with a variety of materials, such as silver, gold or resin, restores a fractured, chipped, decayed and sometimes worn tooth.
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Dr. Gerald P. Curatola, DDS , Dentist, answeredSee All 3 Answers
Porcelain or ceramic fillings are used in areas that are under great chewing pressure, or they could be used as an alternative to a crown. Watch dental expert Gerry Curatola, DDS, describe how they are used and how they differ from other fillings.
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Dr. Thomas Connelly , Dentist, answeredSee All 10 AnswersWell, we have to drill because a cavity is a hole in your tooth, and there's nasty stuff (decay) in that hole that needs to be removed. However, the "cavity hole" is really not one we can work with - it's often too small for us to get in there and do what we have to do. So we need to further drill the hole to make ourselves a workspace big enough to clean out the decay. Then we use a filling on the (larger) hole we made.
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American Dental Association answeredSee All 7 AnswersDental amalgam (metal fillings) has been used by dentists for more than a century and is the most thoroughly researched and tested restorative material among all those in use. It is durable, easy to use, highly resistant to wear and relatively inexpensive in comparison to other materials. For those reasons, it remains a valued treatment option for dentists and their patients.
Because amalgam fillings can withstand very high chewing loads, they are particularly useful for restoring molars in the back of the mouth where chewing load is greatest. They are also useful in areas where a cavity preparation is difficult to keep dry during the filling replacement, such as in deep fillings below the gum line. -
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Dr. Philip M. Uffer, DDS , Dentist, answeredSee All 4 AnswersMostly for cosmetic reasons.
The tooth-colored fillings also bond to the tooth.
That being said, there are certain disadvantages of using the tooth-colored stuff (composite resins).
If you can't keep the area dry, the bond will fail.
If a patient doesn't have good oral hygiene, my experience is that amalgam (or gold, or some other metal) may hold up better than composite resins.
There are more pros and cons to each material....but that would be another question. ;) -
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American Dental Association answeredSee All 6 AnswersIt is important to visit your dentist regularly. Part of that routine visit will include a cleaning of your teeth and examination of your mouth, including any fillings, crowns, bridges or other dental work. By catching any problems early on, these can be treated and prevent any additional problems down the road. Routine check ups also help to keep your mouth and teeth healthy.
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RealAge answeredAs hard and permanent as fillings appear on the outside, there is always the chance that the filling will crack, leak or fall out. The average amalgam filling lasts around 12 years; composite fillings last less than 12 years. Most people don't know if they have an amalgam filling or composite filling -- so they are unaware that they should be looking for signs of a cracked or leaking filling. At each dental visit, your dentist will check all of your fillings. Dental x-rays may give further information about condition of your fillings and if they are cracked. The x-rays can also show if there is decay on the tooth's surface under the filling. If you have tooth pain or sensitivity when drinking hot or cold drinks, see your dentist. You may have a crack or leak in your filling. Taking care of this problem early on may save you serious dental work down the road. -
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American Dental Association answeredSee All 4 Answers
Sometimes your dental visit to receive a filling will require more than one appointment. When that happens, your dentist will fit you with a temporary filling so that your teeth will not shift and your bite will not be affected while you wait for your permanent restoration. When your tooth is being prepped for a dental crown, a temporary filling is placed in the crown opening to keep saliva out. Antibiotics may be prescribed if an infection is present and has spread beyond the end of the roots.