Dental Filling Materials

Amalgam VS Composite

After your tooth is prepared and ready to be filled, it is important to pick the right filling material. Your dentist would best advise you on this.

There are 2 types of fillings:

1) Amalgam
2) Composite

The first filling type is amalgam, commonly referred to as silver fillings. Amalgams are a mixture of metals such as mercury, silver, copper and tin.

The second type is a composite filling, which consists of plastic and glass particles and closely matches your tooth color.

What Type Of Filling Is Right For You?

There is no one right filling for everyone. In most cases your best bet is to follow your dentist’s recommendation. But in order to make an informed decision here is what you should know about each type of filling.

An amalgam filling may have sensitivity to cold foods and drinks after placement for few days or even longer. In addition, these silver fillings often discolor the tooth and surrounding gum. You should consult with your dentist before choosing amalgam fillings.

Composite is the filling of choice when it comes to matching your tooth color. Composite fillings consist of plastic and glass particles. They have become the most popular filling material because in addition to closely resembling your existing tooth color they also solidly bond or glue to the tooth. Also, they don’t contain mercury or any other metal like silver fillings and there is less likelihood of sensitivity to cold food and drinks.

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