While fillings have been used for centuries to restore teeth, modern dentistry has advanced to provide a range of materials and techniques to match every patient’s unique needs and preferences. Ellen Brodsky, DDS, Andrew Schliep, DDS, and the professional team at Art and Dentistry in Bethesda, Maryland, offer numerous filling options to ensure you receive the most effective, comfortable, and aesthetically pleasing treatment possible. Call or schedule an appointment online to learn more.
A filling is a treatment for tooth decay, commonly called a cavity. Cavities are small holes in your teeth that form when plaque (a sticky bacteria) erodes your tooth enamel, your teeth’s protective barrier. As cavities grow, they eat away at your natural tooth structure. A filling involves removing the decayed portion and restoring its shape and size with a special material.
Art and Dentistry offers many types of fillings to suit your unique needs, including:
Made of a mixture of metals, amalgam fillings are durable, effective, and affordable, but they’re also highly visible and appear silver in color.
Composite fillings use composite resin materials to repair cavities and are applied as a liquid. These fillings adhere closely to your chewing surface, blend in with the natural color of your teeth, and only require one visit to place. However, they’re less durable than other options.
Also called porcelain fillings, ceramic materials match the shade of your teeth like their composite counterparts, but they take more than one visit to place. They’re also more expensive.
Gold fillings are extremely durable and can last for decades. However, they’re more expensive than other fillings and are quite visible.
The lifespan of a filling depends on the type, location, and your oral hygiene habits. Metal and ceramic fillings generally last up to 15 years, while composite materials typically wear down within seven years. You can extend the lifespan of your fillings by practicing good oral hygiene habits, such as:
If your filling feels loose, appears cracked, or simply doesn’t fit right anymore, schedule a comprehensive exam with the team to repair any damage.
The most popular and effective alternative to fillings are dental crowns. Unlike fillings, which fill in the space left behind by tooth decay, a crown fits over the entire visible part of your tooth. It restores your tooth’s shape, size, and structure while sealing out bacteria.
Don’t wait to seek professional dental care for cavities. Call Art and Dentistry today or schedule an appointment online to receive quality care with a wide range of filling options.