subject: Gardena dentist - Dental Discussions: Difference between Metal, Composite and Porcelain Fillings [print this page] Gardena dentist - Dental Discussions: Difference between Metal, Composite and Porcelain Fillings
When a cavity develops in a tooth, dentists put in fillings which are materials placed in tooth cavities to stop additional damage and avoid having the tooth extracted. The decayed tissue is removed, along with bacteria and their toxic debris, and the filling material replaces it. Fillings are different from affordable dental implants, which attached directly to the jawbone and become new teeth to replace teeth that are far too decayed for fillings.
Traditionally, metal fillings are made from a mix of about 50% mercury, with smaller proportions of silver, copper, tin and zinc. This mix of metals is packed tightly into the cavity and can last for a long time. Durability and strength are the main advantages of metal fillings. Gardena dentists point out that one disadvantage is that they are highly visible, being dark gray and totally unlike tooth enamel, and some consider them unsightly. Another significant disadvantage is that they weaken teeth in several ways; metal fillings tend to exert outward pressure on the tooth's periphery, eventually causing fractures, and the expand and contract in response to hot and cold substances put into the mouth, and thus stressing the tooth tissue around them. This also contributes to eventual fractures.
Composite fillings are one of the offerings of modern Torrance cosmetic dentists. They are done with dental composite, also called dental bonding, white composite, and dental resin. This is a soft, pliable material that comes in a range of white shades. Your cosmetic dentist will choose a shade to match your natural teeth. It is placed directly into the cleaned-out cavity and then hardened with a curing light. This bonds it to the surrounding tooth structure, and makes it a part of the tooth.
Advantages of composite fillings include aesthetically pleasing tooth-colored appearance, done in one visit, no sensitivity to hot and cold substances, and tooth-strengthening by holding it together. Disadvantages of composite fillings: May not last as long as metal or porcelain fillings, susceptible to discoloration over time, the tooth needs to be isolated from saliva when the bonding material is placed, but usually this is managed easily with wads of cotton or a rubber covering.
Lastly, porcelain fillings are another offering of cosmetic dentistry, and a very popular one. They are called indirect restorations because they are custom-made in a dental lab and then cemented to the tooth, rather than being applied directly to the tooth. They are called porcelain inlays and onlays. Porcelain inlays are smaller and sit within the cusps. Onlays extend over one or more cusps. Because they are made in a lab from impressions of your teeth, they fit precisely into the cavity. Advantages of porcelain fillings are numerous: tooth-colored ceramic material with a glossy surface like enamel, nvisible as fillings, unlike metal fillings, the strengthen the tooth, as they're bonded to it, unlike metal fillings, stain resistant compared to composite fillings, and more durable and strong than composite fillings. There are no disadvantages of porcelain inlays and onlays except that they require two visits. They give you a strong tooth surface; they last as long as metal fillings and they look far nicer. For additional information on Torrance dental implants and fillings.
