Cavities are holes in your teeth formed by decay. They are the number one cause of toothaches, and dental cavities also cause infections and lead to tooth loss. Treating cavities early prevents unnecessary pain and expense. When you have a cavity, we’ll remove the decay, clean the tooth, and add a filling to make your tooth pain-free and good as new.
There is a wide variety of materials used for filling cavities and they vary in strength and color. The two most common types are amalgam and composite.
Amalgam Fillings: Dental amalgam is one of the most common materials used to fill cavities. It has been used by dentists to fill cavities for over 90 years. Also known as “silver fillings,” they are the least expensive of all cavity filling material. Some concern has been raised because of the elemental mercury used in amalgam. As of 2017, the FDA says that amalgam fillings are safe for adults and children six years old and older. Millions of people have amalgam fillings, and after extensive research and review of amalgam studies, the FDA has not found any reason to limit its use.
Composite Fillings: Sometimes referred to as composites or filled resins, these fillings feature a combination of glass or quartz filler and can be made to match the color of your tooth. Composite fillings are also fairly durable and are ideal for small-to-midsize restorations in areas of your mouth that perform moderate chewing. Composite fillings for cavities are very durable and will last many years. However, you may at some point have to replace them.
