Dental filling is not a new thing in oral health, as it has been widely used in dentistry for repairing cavities, cracked or broken teeth. Usually, to treat a tooth cavity, your dentist will remove the decayed portion of the tooth and then fill up the empty space with dental fillings. When carrying out a filling, there are several steps to follow in order to get to the desired result. It’s required that your dentist should trim off any excess material, and polish the final restoration, such as porcelain veneers or porcelain inlays. These steps are necessary in order to avoid any complications after tooth filling.
Permanent dental fillings
Tooth filling can be permanent or temporary depending on the filling material used, such as traditional fillings like gold or silver amalgam, ceramic fillings like porcelain, resin fillings like tooth-colored composite, or mercury fillings made with glass materials. Each type of filling has its own price and advantages, allowing you to choose the one that suits you best.
Temporal dental fillings are meant to last for a short while, maybe a month or two. Permanent fillings last longer but not forever, they can last for at least 5 years or more. This all depends on the filling material that you used, glass Ionomer fillings has the shortest life span. While gold fillings last longer for at least 15 years.
Is dental fillings safe?
If you are about to get dental fillings from a new dentist, you may wonder if fluoride is safe. Is this stuff really safe? Personally, I haven’t had a dental filling before, but it’s quite scary and can make anyone worry about cavities and tooth decay. Although I haven’t received a filling, many of my friends have.
My answer to that question is that the safest dental filling material, such as ceramic fillings or porcelain fillings, can vary for each patient. Everyone is unique, and what worked for you with traditional fillings might not work for another person. The best way to determine the safest dental filling material for you is through tests, like the Clifford Materials Reactivity Test. This test provides detailed information on your dental condition and helps identify suitable dental products, including temporary fillings, if needed. Your dentist may take samples from your teeth, gums, or blood to conduct these tests.
After a series of tests on numerous patients, dentists have found that silver amalgam, composite resins, ceramic fillings, porcelain fillings, and temporary fillings are the most commonly used and recommended dental filling materials. These materials are safe for most patients and offer different options for dental filling.
What is the Safest Dental Filling material?
Amalgam fillings
Silver amalgam fillings are good, infact it’s among the most popular filling material in dentistry. Amalgam is made by the combination of silver, tin, copper and mercury. It is very affordable and has been used widely in dentistry for many years now.
The safety of using amalgam filings, which contain mercury, in dentistry has been strongly disputed by many dentists. Studies have shown that dental amalgams can release trace amounts of mercury, which may lead to health problems such as kidney or brain damage, Alzheimer’s, and multiple sclerosis. It is important to consider alternative options like glass ionomer fillings to prevent tooth decay and cavities without the potential risks associated with mercury exposure.
On the other side of the argument, it’s reported that the amount of mercury released from amalgam fillings is too small to worry about. The CDA and Health Canada stated that the amount released doesn’t pose any health risk to the average Canadian. Although, investigations and tests are still going on in order to get solid proofs.
However, the controversy surrounding amalgam fillings and the potential release of mercury into our bodies continued. Some countries even banned or restricted their use in dentistry due to concerns about mercury allergies and exposure. If you are allergic to mercury, it is important to explore alternative options for dental fillings. One such option is glass ionomer, which is considered one of the safest dental filling materials available.
Composite fillings
Most people choose amalgam fillings because they are cheaper and also last longer than most other filling materials. Even though composite resins do not last as long, many people still choose them for dental fillings. Composite fillings have also been criticized by some dentists because of controversial materials like bisphenol-A (BPA). However, it is important to note that fluoride and glass ionomer are effective in preventing tooth decay and cavities.
Although most dentists consider composite fillings as the safest dental fillings material for tooth decay, fluoride is also commonly used to prevent cavities. The filling has the same color as your natural teeth, making it unnoticeable after installation. However, studies have reported that bisphenol-A (BPA) found in composite resins can result in certain health problems in infants and children. Most countries banned the use of products that contain bisphenol-A (BPA) over concerns that it can lead to brain damage, increased moodiness, and aggressive behavior. Additionally, glass ionomer fillings are another option for preventing tooth decay.
From a 2012 study, Balevi reported saying “Some clinical studies have shown trace amounts of BPA in the saliva of patients immediately after they received a plastic dental filling, such as porcelain fillings or ceramic fillings. These were well below acceptable levels, and became undetectable a couple of hours later. This is in contrast to silver amalgam fillings, which do not contain fluoride.”
Balevi concluded by saying “None of these studies found an association between short-term trace exposure to BPA and any deleterious health outcome.” After the study it was concluded that composite resins, such as porcelain fillings and ceramic fillings, are safe for dental filling.
Final Thoughts
There are many other dental products in Dentistry to choose from, including ceramic fillings, porcelain fillings, mercury fillings, and composite resin fillings. But the big question is, are they all safe too? Dental fillings, such as ceramic fillings, porcelain fillings, mercury fillings, and composite resin fillings, are constantly changing and improving. However, not all of them are safe for everyone. A dental filling, whether it is made of ceramic, porcelain, mercury, or composite resin, may not be safe for you if you have allergic hypersensitivity to the filling material. Dentists will always tell you that a dental filling, whether it is made of ceramic, porcelain, mercury, or composite resin, is safe for you unless there is a clear risk posed, such as allergic hypersensitivity.
In the quest of getting some dental fillings, nothing tested in recent years has matched the efficiency of composite resins or silver amalgam in dentistry.
To learn more on dental fillings and how they can help treat cavities and prevent tooth decay, you can check out some of my previous posts. It is important to visit your dentist regularly and consider the use of fluoride for optimal oral health.
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