Dental restorations come in many shapes and sizes. With the evolution of dental materials, those options continue to increase. Each dental material has its own advantages.
Tooth coloured fillings, also called white fillings, mimic the natural appearance of your teeth. Tooth coloured fillings made of resin or porcelain are not only extremely strong and wear resistant, but are almost impossible to tell from real tooth enamel. Resin is usually used for smaller fillings, while porcelain inlays or onlays are a better choice for larger ones that require a solid foundation for chewing. Tooth coloured fillings have the added advantage of being quick and easy to place in a single appointment, making them the most convenient restoration in many cases. When very little tooth structure remains, or when a tooth has been weakened by a root canal, a crown may be the best restorative option.
Dynamic Dental – SE Calgary
Dental Restorations
403-453-5588
A full-service family oriented SE Calgary dental clinic
#210, 163 Quarry Park Blvd. SE
Some of the advantages of tooth-coloured fillings are:
~They harden right away so you don’t have to worry about staying away from that tooth for chewing
~They chemically bond to your teeth and restore up to 90% of the original tooth
~They closely match the natural tooth colour and appearance
~They can be used in the front and back to restore the original look of your teeth.
Metal fillings may be durable, but they look far from natural! With the aesthetic demands of today’s society and modern dental materials, we no longer have to be packing mercury in our mouths. At Dynamic Dental, we also have your safety in mind. By using a rubber dam and high volume evacuation, we are able to minimize the amount of exposure to mercury when removing old silver fillings. Replacing old silver fillings with new, natural-looking materials can take years off your smile by erasing evidence of past dental work.
When it comes to selecting the best material for your particular teeth, consultation with Dr. Vranjes is key. Strength, aesthetics, cost and longevity of materials may vary greatly for each patient. What we look at when we recommend a restoration is the size of the area that needs to be restored, the condition of the tooth, and the location of the tooth in the mouth. These are all conditions that need to be considered when we assess for restorations.
Inlays and Onlays
Although fillings are the most common way of repairing cavities, they are not the only option available. Another type of restoration is an onlay or inlay. These are more conservative than a crown and unlike standard fillings, they are more durable and longer lasting than composite or amalgam.
If you have a mild to moderate amount of decay or damage on the biting surface of your back teeth – or are looking to replace old metal fillings – porcelain inlays or onlays are an attractive and durable alternative. If you are looking for the most durable option, talk to Dr. Vranjes about gold inlays or onlays (which do not contain any mercury).
Inlays are used to fill in areas within the cusps or ‘top projections’ of a tooth, while onlays extend over one or more of them. Crafted from solid porcelain, they are not only virtually undetectable to the naked eye but also last far longer than traditional fillings. For added durability, you may even consider having a gold inlay/onlay placed. Although not as aesthetically pleasing, gold will usually last longer than porcelain restorations.
Dynamic Dental – SE Calgary
Dental Restorations
403-453-5588
A full-service family oriented SE Calgary dental clinic
#210, 163 Quarry Park Blvd. SE
