At Dental On Fort, Dr. Bjornson can use a variety of filling options to repair fractured or decayed teeth including composite fillings, inlays and onlays.
What Are Dental Fillings?
You may be familiar with dental fillings as a common treatment for minor damage to a tooth. This is usually caused by a cavity - also known as tooth decay - or by wear and tear over long periods of time.
Dental fillings can be composed of several different materials depending on the location of the damage being treated, and your budget. Likewise, fillings may vary in how extensive they are, how much they support the structure of a damaged tooth, and even what they are called based on where on the tooth they are applied.
When your dentist applies a dental filling to a tooth to repair the damage, they not only aim to restore your tooth's function and support the natural tooth structure. These fillings can also relieve discomfort and pain that you may have been feeling as a result of wear and tear or cavities in your teeth.
Direct Fillings
Direct fillings are small and targeted fillings that are placed inside a prepared cavity, covering only the parts of the tooth that are experiencing decay.
This type of filling can be made from any type of material and is usually used for cavities that are located on the sides, or between two teeth.
Inlays & Onlays
Larger than regular fillings, inlays are restorations that fill the space between rounded edges or cusps, at the centre of the tooth's surface. Aesthetic inlays can be made from composite resin or porcelain. You may opt to replace silver fillings with aesthetic inlays to restore the appearance of your smile.
One or more cusps on a damaged tooth may be covered with onlays. Onlays may be a helpful solution for cases in which a dental crown would be excessive. They are often more durable and longer-lasting than regular dental fillings.
At Dental On Fort, we use CEREC® technology to create and place ceramic tooth-coloured inlays and onlays in just one easy visit.
Filling Materials
Dental fillings can be made from the following materials:
Composite Fillings
Fillings made of composite resin are used to treat cavities or damage while maintaining the shape and natural colour of the tooth. When applying these fillings, your dentist will custom-blend each one to match the colour of the surrounding tooth, helping to preserve the appearance of your smile.
Silver Amalgam Fillings
Much more durable than composite resin, silver amalgam fillings can last up to 15 years. The material used to create these restorations are a noticeable silver-grey. Because of this, amalgam fillings are often used for parts of your smile that are hidden from view.
Cast Gold Fillings
Fillings made from cast gold are very strong and long-lasting. Gold fillings are, generally speaking, more expensive than either of the above options. Fillings made from gold will often take 2 appointments and are often used for similarly-located cavities as amalgam fillings.