Finding out you have a cavity isn’t the worst thing in world, and here at Livonia Family Dental we can help you decide how to handle it. The technology behind fillings has come a long way over the last generation, especially with composite fillings.
Composite Fillings
We use only composite fillings, for several reasons. First, composite fillings have the distinct advantage of being tooth-colored. In fact, we can closely match the filling to the same shade of white as your own natural teeth, effectively hiding the dental work from all but the trained eye. Using composite filling material also means you can keep more of the healthy tooth surface during the filling process, and that’s an important part of holistic dentistry.
Gold Fillings
Gold is the most expensive filling material, and usually requires at least two office visits to place correctly. When coupled with the fees, the cost of gold filling material makes this an unattractive option for our patients. While gold fillings are sturdy and can last a full decade without needing to be replaced, they are also cosmetically distinctive and are the least-often used to correct a cavity in American dental practices.
Amalgam Fillings
Amalgam fillings are made of several different silver-colored metals, including mercury, silver, tin, zinc and copper. Like gold fillings, they are also quite durable and can last for 10-15 years or more. However, amalgam fillings require the removal of more healthy tooth surface to properly adhere. While the jury is still out on the long-term effects of mercury-based filling material, we feel that it’s better to be safe than sorry.
Before filling your cavity, we’ll thoroughly explain each step of the process to make sure you know what to expect. We can also offer nitrous oxide to help you relax and make your experience emotionally and physically painless.
