Dental Fillings
Gold, Composite, Ceramic and More
Here at Aqua Dental in Harrow, London, we can help you choose the right type of dental filling that will be the most beneficial to your oral health and lifestyle.
A common way to treat cavities and decay we can employ white, tooth-coloured fillings that blend perfectly with your existing teeth to give the appearance of a flawless smile.
Choosing the correct filling can give you up to 15 years of protection!
What are fillings used for?
Fillings are used to repair cracked, chipped, or broken teeth that have been worn down from misuse, including nail-biting and tooth grinding.
They are also used to treat cavities, where a dentist will remove the decayed portion of the tooth and then fill the area where the decayed material had been removed.
Tooth fillings are often necessary because they help us dentists repair cavities so that they don’t lead to bigger and more intrusive dental problems down the road.
Whilst fillings are primarily used to fill small holes caused by tooth decay. We also use them to repair cracks and fractures in the teeth without using invasive restorative methods like dental crowns. Left untreated, going without a filling can cause serious problems.
Do you need a root canal? Your symptoms
One of the significant tell-tale symptoms of needing a root canal is persistent tooth pain.
The pain felt with pulpitis will likely bother you, but it can go away from time to time in moderate cases but will always reappear.
Tooth pain might have other causes besides root canals. Other possibilities might include other conditions like gum disease or something simpler like a cavity.
No matter the cause, it’s better to get in touch with a general dentist like Aqua Dental to help relieve your tooth pain.
Important filling questions answered
Our restorative dentists have gathered to list the most common questions patients ask and have answered them simply below:
- How long does a filling last? On average, you can expect a filling to last around 5 – 7 years, if looked after well, before they need to be replaced.
- Do tooth fillings hurt? Cavity fillings are not painful – our dentists will numb the area with numbing gel before injecting a local anaesthetic.
- What are the main types of fillings? Composite fillings, ceramic fillings and glass ionomer fillings.
- Which is the best filling for teeth? The best and most preferred types of fillings are composite and porcelain.
What filling materials are available
We offer several types of filling materials at Aqua Dental in Harrow.
However, we often only use tooth-coloured, white fillings made from a mixture of plastics and porcelain, which our patients opt for most commonly.
Often the best type of filling material is decided by the location, the extent of the decay, and, more often than not, the cost of the filling material.
Today, several filling materials exist; teeth can be filled with gold, porcelain and composite resin or tooth-coloured.
Comparing filling materials
Pros of all:
| Gold | Silver | White |
|---|---|---|
|
Lasts 10-15 years |
Lasts up to 15 years |
Closely matched to existing teeth |
|
Withstands chewing forces |
Withstands chewing forces |
Bonded to tooth structure |
|
Better-looking |
Less expensive than composite |
Tooth-sparing preparation |
Cons of all:
| Gold | Silver | White |
|---|---|---|
|
10x more expensive |
Poor aesthetics |
Wear out sooner |
|
Two office visits |
Destruction of tooth structure |
Takes 20 minutes longer to apply |
|
Risk of galvanic shock |
Discolouration |
Chipping |
|
Patients dislike metal fillings |
Cracks and fractures |
Additional expense |
Advanced fillings
Sometimes, when there is not enough tooth structure to support a filling, but the tooth has not been damaged enough for a crown, we often prescribe an indirect filling.
Similar to composite or tooth-coloured fillings, indirect fillings require two visits to be placed as they are first made in a dental laboratory so we can ensure a perfect fit before cementing into place.
The two types of indirect fillings we offer are Inlays and Onlays. They are much more durable and last longer than traditional fillings.
How to avoid fillings
- Cut down or manage your intake of sugar or acidic foods – drinking sugary drinks throughout the day, for example, does not give your mouth a chance to recover.
- Visit a dentist or a hygienist regularly.
- Brush your teeth twice daily for two minutes.
- Use the right toothpaste – we can help advise on which is best!
- Change your toothbrush or the head of your toothbrush regularly (at least once every three months).
