Allsmiles

If you’ve ever had tooth decay, you already know what a dental filling entails. For the lucky few with cavity-less teeth, a dental filling comes in two basic varieties that repair the tooth to prevent further damage.

Dental fillings are made from either an amalgam or composite resin. Amalgam fillings are usually silver or gold colored and are also sometimes called ‘mercury fillings’. While durable, the major drawback to this type of dental filling is that they are very noticeable in contrast to the whitish enamel of surrounding teeth. Composite resin fillings came to be popular in more recent years as an alternative to amalgam fillings. These fillings have a more natural look and contain no metal. Initially, composite fillings were not as strong, but developments in technology have made for a product that far surpasses previous performance standards.

When considering amalgam versus composite fillings, an important consideration will be insurance and/or cost. In general, composite fillings are more expensive than amalgam because the materials are more expensive and the process to put them in correctly is more involved and can take as much as 50 percent longer. However, more and more insurance providers are now covering their use which is good for people who want to maintain a natural in-mouth look and feel. Prices will vary, but a patient can expect to pay $30-40 more per filling for composites if paying out of pocket which you may be even with many insurance plans.

Aside cost, the most likely deciding factor in deciding dental fillings is aesthetics. Most patients who choose composite resin fillings do so because it they are difficult to distinguish without close inspection. In addition to their visual appeal, composite fillings do not contain mercury or any other metals that may contribute to discomfort in the user. Although no research has indicated mercury toxicity is a problem with amalgam fillings, the subject is controversial and undecided.

It used to be that composite fillings were almost delicate in comparison to amalgam varieties that have a long history of durability. But that is no more and composites are possible on all teeth within the mouth. Additionally, composites are highly regarded because they are less likely to weaken the remaining tooth and require less shaping and filing of the damaged tooth to prepare the surface.

One downside to composite fillings is that it is easier for a dentist – an unskilled one anyway – to get it wrong. Technique and skill are much more necessary when placing composite fillings and only dentists who have the proper training in this specific filling type should be used. But this shouldn’t be construed as a deterrent, there are plenty of highly capable dentists that have performed many composite fillings – it’s just that research is even more important.

While amalgam fillings have for the most part seen their heyday, they are still an option when a dental filling is needed. This option may be even more viable when considering multiple teeth that can drive up the extra costs associated with composite fillings. Even so, composite fillings are the current preference and many people are even having their amalgam fillings removed just to have them replaced with more attractive composites.