Amalgam fillings often last for 15 years.
Dr. Sarno will need to examine your tooth and take x-rays to rule out the presence of an infection. X-rays will reveal how large the cavity or how extensive the damage is and how large of a filling is necessary.
To prevent pain sensation, we will administer a local anesthetic that will numb your mouth before we perform any drilling. Sedation is also available for anxious patients.
With a dental drill, we will remove the tooth decay from the tooth and file off any jagged edges from dental trauma.
Depending on the location of the tooth, you may prefer a tooth-colored filling or a more durable silver filling. Your tooth will be prepared, the filling will be applied with a bonding agent, and then it may be cured with UV light in some cases.
An amalgam filling is a traditional filling material made of a mixture of metals that has been used in dentistry for 150 years. It’s been well-tested and considered the gold standard for repairing a decayed or damaged tooth due to its superior durability and longevity.
Since amalgam fillings are silver in appearance, they are typically preferred to be placed in the rear molars which need additional protection from chewing forces and which aren’t as visible when you smile. If you need a large filling, amalgam is the best material to preserve the long-term health of the tooth.
In recent years, tooth-colored composite resin has been making waves in dental offices, becoming the new preferred filling material of choice due to its superior aesthetics. When a patient needs a filling in the front teeth, composite fillings enable us to blend the filling in with the shade of the surrounding natural teeth.
Composite resin fillings are strong but not as durable as amalgam fillings which is why they’re preferred to fill the front teeth. When placed in the back teeth, they may degrade faster under the chewing forces.
However, these biocompatible fillings are mercury and metal-free and allow us to preserve more of the natural tooth structure. We also don’t need to wait for them to harden because UV light instantly cures them.
A composite filling looks just like a real tooth but its lifespan is reduced, as they last on average for 5 to 7 years.
No, dental fillings are painless because we always numb your mouth beforehand. We also offer 4 different types of dental sedation for your ultimate comfort, which will relax you and relieve negative emotions if you are particularly anxious about getting a filling. Ultimately, an untreated cavity will cause you a lot more pain and discomfort than the filling procedure will.
Composite fillings placed in the front teeth often last longer than those placed in the rear molars.
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