Confused about dental fillings? Need to pick through the jargon? Dentists decide which type of dental Filling to use according to a client’s specific cavity or budget, but if you’d like to know a little more about the different types of filling available, then read on.

The amalgam filling

Amalgam is made up of a mixture of different metals including silver, tin, zinc and mercury. An Amalgam filling is hard wearing, able to take on at least 10 years of chewing. It doesn’t take long to fit an amalgam filling, which makes it an inexpensive option, in fact the cheapest filling on the market today. There are disadvantage however, as amalgam is dark silver-grey, it is unsightly and not suitable for any of your front teeth. Furthermore, because amalgam doesn’t stick or bond to your teeth, dentists have to drill a number of ledges and cuts into the tooth’s structure so that the filling stays in place. Mercury vapour is released constantly from amalgam fillings, some people believe that in small amounts there are no adverse effects.

The composite resin filling

A Composite Resin Filling is an easy favourite as it’s made up of plastic and glass particles that match the colour of your teeth. It is bonded with your teeth and so doesn’t require unnecessary drilling. Done correctly, the composite resin filling has the same lifespan as an amalgam filling and no possible side effects. In terms of cost, the composite resin filling is mid-range, it’s not quite as cheap as amalgam, and not as pricey as gold or porcelain.

The ceramics (porcelain) filling

A ceramic filling is similar to the composite resin filling in that it matches the colour of your teeth, but it is also resistant to staining.  As the substance is soft before being set into the tooth, it fills awkward spaces and then bonds into the structure. This means it needs very little drilling and so is a good option for children. The only disadvantage to a ceramic filling is that it can become brittle and crack over time so is not suitable for large cavities.

The gold filling

This filling is mostly made up of gold but has other metals in it too. Gold fillings are long lasting if well made, often reaching a lifespan of over ten years. But due to the fact that it takes two dental sittings to fit a gold filling and that the material itself is expensive, a gold filling is often up to 10 times more expensive than the amalgam option. Another fact to keep in mind is that if you already have amalgam fillings in your mouth, the gold and silver set up a battery in your mouth, emitting an unpleasant electrical current and metallic taste.