White or tooth coloured composite filling materials are made from a mixture of a resin base filled with glass type particles. Composite white filling materials have the ability to be bonded to tooth structure with almost toothlike biocompatibility properties.
The resin base consists of bis-GMA and a glass filler is usually silica based. The main advantage over traditional metal-based amalgam fillings is vastly improved aesthetics. For example, composite fillings can be built up stepwise in different colours and shades to restore a fractured tooth to give a very natural lifelike appearance. The filling material is presented as a thick paste which is set hard by a blue curing light.
rder to remove this dead material, a root canal treatment can be carried out which means the tooth can be saved rather than being removed.
Fillings are most commonly needed due to tooth decay. Dentist can see decay in the mouth during an exam or on an X-ray. If it is not removed it can get bigger and eventually cause pain or breakage of the tooth. The sooner decay is removed the better as it can increase in size very quickly. Fillings are also needed when a tooth fractures or when old fillings need replaced.
Amalgam (Silver fillings)- This materials has been used for over 150 years and has shown to work very well over a long period of time. It is quick to place and generally cheaper than other tooth coloured filling materials. The main disadvantages of amalgam are that it is metallic in appearance and cannot be bonded to natural tooth. This means that it is more visible in the mouth and not as kind to the remaining tooth as other filling materials.
Composite ( White fillings)- Composite is a tooth coloured filling material that comes in a wide variety of shades allowing the material to blend seamlessly into the natural tooth. White material can be bonded to your natural tooth which makes it kinder to the remaining tooth and allows it to be placed in many different scenarios.
Ceramic– Ceramic fillings are excellent for larger cavities where white fillings materials are not ideal. They are constructed in a laboratory so are more expensive than white filling material. They look incredibly natural, very strong and are bonded in place similar to white filling material. The most commonly used ceramic material is Emax which is a particularly brand of ceramic which has excellent aesthetics.
Gold– Gold can be used in similar scenarios as ceramic fillings. It is an excellent dental material but has gone out of fashion as patients generally request tooth coloured materials. It is very durable and can last a long time if it is looked after.
Glass Ionomer– Is tooth coloured like composite but is not as natural in appearance. Is used every commonly as a temporary filling material but can be used permanently in certain scenarios.
Silver fillings ( amalgam) are made from a combination of metals such as silver, tin, copper and mercury. White fillings ( composite) are made from resins and very small glass particles. Silver fillings do not stick to teeth so special features have to be cut into the tooth to allow the material to lock in. White filling material can be glued directly to a tooth so these features are not required.
The main benefits are as follows:
There are many factors that can determine just how long it will take to get a composite filling, including the size of a cavity, its location, and how many fillings you need. A special cover called rubber dam is often needed which goes over the tooth temporality during the appointment to create a seal which stops moisture in the mouth from contaminating the surface of the natural tooth.
This is important as the bond will not work if any moisture touches the tooth while the filling is placed. Once the filling is set the cover is removed. The appointment time for one filling is generally between 45-60 mins but will be longer if more fillings are carried out at the same time.
