Dental Filling
Dental caries, commonly known as cavities or tooth decay, are holes in teeth caused by bacterial acid erosion. Dental fillings are used to treat cavities. They involve removing decayed material, then filling the space with materials like composite resin, which restores tooth integrity, prevents further decay, and maintains oral function.
Front Teeth
Composite Fillings
Composite fillings are tooth coloured and can be used for back teeth. Nowadays, large composite fillings are as good and as durable as amalgam, and they are more expensive, but this should be weighed up against their excellent appearance and any concerns you may have about mercury release. Composites are very effective if they involve only one or two surfaces of the tooth and are small in size.
Glass Ionomer Fillings
Glass ionomer fillings are another high quality material especially suitable for areas where strength is less important, such as the gum line, and in the children’s molars. They also release fluoride gradually which will prevent the reoccurrence of tooth decay.
Back Teeth
Composite Fillings
Composite fillings are the most widely used, because of their excellence appearance, they are made from a plastic resin and filler, and bonded to the tooth. A range of shades is available so that the colour of your teeth can be matched very closely, making them almost impossible to see.
Gold or Porcelain Inlays & Overlays
Gold or porcelain inlays and overlays are very effective filling materials due their strength and long term durability. They are more expensive than other materials.
If the cavity in your tooth is very large, or if the tooth is cracked and weakened, the best solution may be to have a crown fitted.
Is there a way to prevent fillings?
Air polishing is a procedure which uses air & water pressure to deliver a controlled stream of specially processed powders in a slurry through the handpiece nozzle.
Fine particles of powders are propelled by compressed air in a warm spray and directed onto the surfaces of the teeth.
This pressurized jet of air, water and powder removes surface stains, plaque and other soft deposits such as food particles trapped in between the teeth.
AIRFLOW® Therapy isn't a typical air polishing treatment but an advanced version of scaling and polishing treatment!
