Fillings: Which Do You Choose?

When we find out that we need a filling, chances are our poor attention to our dental hygiene is to blame. In fact, it seems that the only real headache in getting a filling is which type of filling to get. Made from a mixture of mercury, silver, tin and copper, but mostly made out of mercury, both amalgam fillings and white fillings are common options to restore cavity-damaged teeth back to their original form.

Made of composite resin, white fillings are tooth-colored plastic mixtures. They’re filled with different materials, usually including quartz, silica and sometimes, barium for added strength. Some of the main advantages of white fillings include:

The materials bond to your teeth, which helps restore its original strength. This makes them a bit more durable and cheaper because you won’t have to spend much on future restorations. And since they are made to match the shade of other teeth, they look more natural. White fillings are also less likely to affect your teeth’s sensitivity to hot and cold.

Mercury fillings have been around for 150 years, and usually made from mercury and combined with an alloy powder containing a mixture of silver, zinc, copper and tin. Some of the main advantages of mercury fillings include:

Mercury fillings are cheap and are usually covered by dental insurance and much easier to fit as compared to white fillings. The materials used are far stronger compared to those used for white fillings, making them much more durable.

To be honest, both treatments are equally as effective as the other, so you’re not exactly losing out on anything, regardless of whichever you choose.

Contact Creative Dimensions Dentistry in Castro Valley, CA at 510-881-8010 to schedule an appointment for a checkup today. 

Creative Dimensions Dentistry proudly serves Castro Valley, San Leandro, Hayward, Oakland, Fremont, Russell City and all surrounding areas.