Fillings
A filling is necessary to replace part of a tooth that has been lost through decay or accidental damage. Nowadays fillings are not only functional but can be natural looking as well.
White or tooth coloured fillings are usually made of Dental Composite which contain acrylic and quartz. The filling is bonded to the tooth and set hard by a blue light. Considerable advances have been made in the composition of dental composites and we use only the best materials to obtain life like restorations. Composites are very sensitive to moisture contamination before they are set, and can take longer to place than silver fillings.
Silver or Dental amalgam fillings which for many years have been the traditional material for filling back teeth contain silver with copper mixed with mercury. There has been a great deal of concern about the use of amalgam over the years, currently there has been no proven risk to patients. Although the majority of the fillings we place are dental composite sometimes when moisture control is difficult and aesthetics is not a concerned amalgam is used.
Many people are apprehensive about having a filling done. With a gentle technique and using a gum gel anaesthetic prior to injection the tooth can be anethetised comfortably and filling carried out.
For patients wishing to have their amalgam restorations replaced safely, we use a sheet of latex called a rubber dam. This affectively seals the tooth from the rest of the mouth and prevents any swallowing of the old amalgam restoration.
