Reasons You Should Go for Composite Filling

When a tooth is decayed or damaged, it needs to be fixed. The tooth can be repaired in one of two ways: amalgam fillings or composite resin fillings unless the repair is significant enough to need a crown or inlay. Amalgam fillings, which include a mix of metals, have been used since 1895. However, a more recent option for dental fillings is composite fillings.

Dentists have filled cavities with silver or amalgam fillings for more than a century. Compared to the more recent dental innovation of composite, or tooth-colored fillings, they have some substantial drawbacks despite being sturdy and long-lasting.

An Explanation of Composite Filling

Composite fillings are fillings that can replace amalgam or gold alloys and are often used to repair cavities in the mouth. They are created from a composite resin and fillers like quartz and other substances (such as aluminosilicate, borosilicate, fused silica, or zirconia and silane coupling agent).

The advantages of employing these fillings include the fact that they are nearly always superior to other filling materials since they do not corrode or trouble the gum tissue as quickly as other filling materials do.

Composite fillings, like the majority of dental restorations, might eventually need to be replaced since they are not permanent. Despite you will have a long-lasting, gorgeous smile because of their high durability and extended lifespan.

Ideal Candidates For This Treatment Options

There are many cosmetic dentistry treatments available that may be suitable to fit a wide range of dental needs. But, you should only opt for the solution that fits your personal dental needs.

There are various additional factors that one needs to consider, and it’s important to determine whether you are an ideal candidate for composite fillings or not. Here’s a checklist for you:

  • If you are suffering from tooth decay in a smaller or sizeable region that needs to be filled
  • If you have any kind of tooth sensitivity or toothache caused by tooth decay
  • If you have noticed any appearance of white or brown spots in your teeth
  • If you have broken, damaged, chipped, or cracked teeth.

Reasons for Using Composite Fillings

Let’s go through the thirteen reasons for using composite fillings than other varieties!

1. Placing Composite Fillings and the Healing Process

The process of placing composite fillings is relatively simple and takes 20 to 30 minutes. Your dentist will sedate your teeth and remove any decayed or damaged tooth structure, similar to a standard tooth-filling operation. After that, they will clean the area to guarantee that your composite filler is placed properly. To achieve a proper fit, your filling is made based on the form of your tooth and the space it will fill or cover. Then, the secure placement of your composite filling is made to guarantee that it looks and performs like a natural tooth.

2. A Natural Look

Metal fillings are visible when people speak, eat, or smile. Many people are embarrassed to show off their metal fillings to others. Due to the tooth color of composite resin fillings, this dental replacement is undetectable. Many people like the natural appearance provided by these fillings.

3. Your Teeth Still Have Their Original Structure

Comparing composite fillings to other types of fillings, one of the main advantages is that less of your natural tooth needs to be removed. Your tooth will also grow stronger as a whole after the filling has fused to your original tooth. However, amalgam fillings need the removal of a significant portion of your original tooth, which may impair the tooth’s general structure.

4. Better Health

Composite fillings provide additional advantages outside of just making your smile seem better. For instance, composite does not corrode or harm gum tissue like some other materials, so they are safer for your teeth and gums than amalgam or gold alloys! Additionally, composite fills last longer than many other types of filling materials, which means you won’t need to replace them as frequently over time, saving you money. Finally, when applied to your tooth surfaces by a skilled dentist, the composite may be color-matched to appear more natural.

5. Unaffected by Changes in Temperature

Metal fillings frequently cause sensitivity when exposed to heat or cold. These fillings can also change color or compress in response to temperature changes. The effects on the teeth are severe. People with composite fillings are not sensitive to food or drink that is hot or cold. These fillings also keep their normal structure even when subjected to very high or very low temperatures.

6. Less Drilling

The dentist must make a sizable hole in the tooth before placing metal fillings. To make space for metal fillings, the dentist must remove part of the good tooth structure. The same cannot be said for fillings made without metal. The composite material easily adheres to the tooth and is flexible. This implies that less drilling is needed to install the filler. This is a significant advantage since it is always wise to keep the original tooth structure as much as possible.

7. Mouth Devoid of Mercury

Using mercury in fillings has been approved by the FDA, and there is no proof that a filling made of amalgam may lead to mercury poisoning. However, some people have metal allergies and some people just don’t like the idea of having mercury in their mouths.

8. Better Bonding

Any filling you have must adhere to your tooth through bonding if you want it to stay in place. The micro-level bonding between your natural tooth and composite fillings provides extra stability.

9. Harden Easily

One great feature of composite fillings is how rapidly they set, allowing your dentist to complete the procedure as swiftly as possible. As a result, you won’t have to sit in the dentist’s chair at a local dental office for hours on end while receiving treatments and operations. Quite the opposite. You will be astonished by how quickly the procedure goes overall since it hardens quickly.

10. Durable and Long-lasting

Whether you wish to repair a failing composite filling or have composite installed as part of your dental restoration, composite will last significantly longer than amalgam and gold alloys. Long-term savings come from a dental treatment that lasts longer. Additionally, composite is more resilient than other materials because it adheres effectively to tooth enamel, allowing teeth to withstand bumps and blows from hard objects like teeth during chewing. Finally, composite materials are a superior choice where durability, such as crowns and veneers, is crucial because they don’t wear off chewing food.

11. Teeth Protection

Due to its high sensitivity to thermal stressors, amalgam fillings will expand and contract in response to changes in temperature. Your teeth may get weaker and possibly fracture as a result of this. Composite fillings, on the other hand, have insulating characteristics and can protect your teeth from hot and cold meals. Additionally, this eases tooth sensitivity.

12. Better Performance

Composite is a great option for dental restorations since it improves tooth function and is less likely than amalgam or gold alloys to lead to chewing issues over time, regardless of whether you have just had cavities filled or wish to preserve existing composite work. Additionally, composite has been demonstrated to connect effectively with enamel, reducing the risk of chipping or breaking when utilized in restorative operations like crowns. Composite is an excellent option for those with fillings since it doesn’t react badly if unintentionally exposed when eating, brushing, or flossing.

13. Stop the Damage

The use of dental fillings dates back to the late 1800s. When you have a cavity, germs in your mouth cause little holes in your teeth, and over time, the decay spreads to the pulp and even to your jawbone. Decay left untreated might lead to serious issues.

Dental fillings close up divots and halt deterioration. You don’t lose teeth or have your jawbone harmed. 

Do Composites Have Any Drawbacks?

Due to the materials used in their construction and the time and expertise needed to insert them, composite fillings are often more expensive. When used to treat big cavities, they could also be less resilient than silver fillings. (There is no difference for minor cavities). It may take a little longer to install a composite on a tooth, and if composites are applied for inlays or onlays, more than one session may be necessary.

To Sum Up

Dental amalgam is less expensive (and accessible through the NHS), but it lacks the cosmetic value of composite fillings. Additionally, there are issues with the components. Composites may be just as durable as natural teeth when used carefully and help preserve more of the original tooth structure. This is especially true now that new composite materials are routinely introduced to the market.

As you can see, composite fillings are better than other materials in the majority of ways. Furthermore, your local dentist can provide you with adequate information, if you have cavities, and clarify why this sort of material would be better for you than amalgams.