Applying a filling is one of the most common methods our Cowles Dental Care dentists use to repair small to medium sized cavity. The fillings location on the tooth, its visibility in your smile and the primary function of the tooth all factor into the material used for the filling.
Composite fillings are made from a resin material that can be shaded to match the surrounding enamel. These filling can be applied in a single appointment.
Porcelain-ceramic fillings are a good choice for teeth that appear in your smile. The porcelain material can be shaded to match the color of the surrounding tooth enamel. Porcelain fillings are made in a laboratory and then fitted during a follow-up appointment.
The biting surface of your back teeth is often called upon to do a lot of chewing and grinding. This makes durable materials, like gold and base metals a good choice for fillings in these areas. Just like porcelain fillings, gold inlays and onlays need to be custom-made in a dental lab before being cemented into your cavity at a brief follow up appointment.
Amalgam fillings are less expensive than gold, yet they are just as durable. Amalgam is dark in color so it is rarely used to fill a cavity in a spot that is visible in your smile.
If you suspect a cavity has formed on one or your teeth, you should not delay in contacting Cowles Dental Care’s clinic in Portland, Oregon at 503-255-1506 to have the tooth examined. If it is caught early a modest cavity can usually be repaired by a filling, without undue complications.
