Dental Fillings:
When decay has destroyed a bit less than 50 percent of the chewing or biting surface of the tooth we can usually place a "filling." For many years, silver/mercury (amalgam) fillings were the standard filling material for back teeth. However, we no longer use these types of fillings for a variety of reasons. Tooth colored composite filling materials are as good as or better than amalgam by all measures. Tooth colored fillings look better, are bonded to the tooth structure so they provide a measure of support and strength for the restored tooth and last about as long. Tooth colored fillings are often smaller and more conservative than mercury/silver amalgam fillings. This helps preserve good tooth structure. The downside to tooth colored fillings are greater skill level and slightly longer time needed for placement and a higher cost due to materials and time factors. You can expect tooth colored filling to cost 25-50% more than a comparable mercury/silver fillings. What do you use to fill cavities?
