Fillings are commonplace today at the dentist office. They are an early warning repair system for teeth that have suffered from cavities or decay. When performing a filling, the dentist first removes the bad part of your tooth that is decayed or suffering and then fills it with a durable “filling” which helps bacteria and other decay from attacking your teeth.

There are many types of materials that can be used in fillings. Each has their own advantage. Your dentist may recommend a filling of gold, silver, porcelain, or of a composite material based on different factors of your situation.

If a cavity, decay, or even a crack has managed to damage a large area of the tooth, you may need a crown or a cap. If the decay has managed to get to the nerve, you may end up needing a root canal to get rid of the dead pulp. However, if you are fortunate enough that your tooth can be repaired by a filling, he will remove the cavity then fill the hole with a material listed above. Depending on your insurance and what you can afford, you can choose which one you want or take his recommendation. In most cases, porcelain or composite fillings will be recommended. Gold fillings are popular, although most people want a filling that will match the natural color of their teeth.

So here are the different types of fillings:

Gold fillings are considered the most durable and the best. They also tend to be the most expensive. Gold contours well with the gums and can last for many years.

Silver fillings would be considered the next best. They are durable and they also cost much less than gold. The downside is that they are quite visible. This is why dentists are more likely to recommend silver fillings for your back teeth cavities but will consult you whether or not to use them for front (and visible) teeth.

Composite fillings are a common type of material, as they match the color of your teeth. The material that makes up the composite filling is mixed then placed directly in the cavity, where it hardens. They last several years, although composite isn’t recommended for large cavities, or areas where they may chip.

The final type of filling is porcelain. Porcelain is very common, and produced in lab where it will be matched to your teeth then bonded to the affected tooth. Porcelain fillings match the color of your teeth, and are resistant to any type of staining. The costs for porcelain fillings can be very expensive, some costing as much as gold fillings.

Finally, your fillings appointment will probably last an hour. You will get novacain (general or local) which makes you not feel the pain when taking out the bad part of the tooth and filling it in with a feeling.

Want to find out more about dentists? Emil Benjamin writes often for dental office san diego as well as for dentist glendale california.