Australian men and women have an average of 7-8 fillings, according to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. However, if you were to ask any number of those men and women with fillings if they knew what filling material their dentist used, many of them wouldn’t have a clue.
Believe it or not, there is more than one filling material available, and what works for you may not work for someone else. Let your dentist help you decide, but read on to learn what options the average person has. These may differ from one dental clinic to the next.
The Steps Involved in A Filling
Fillings are a proven treatment method for cavities and cracked and broken teeth. Your dentist will numb the area with local anaesthetic then remove the decayed area with an abrasion instrument, drill, or laser. The tooth is then cleaned of debris and bacteria before a liner is put in to protect your tooth’s nerve.
Each layer of the process undergoes curing to harden the filling material, before the final result is trimmed, shaped, and polished to suit.
Cast Gold Fillings
Cast gold fillings are an option that some dentists and patients consider. They can last for up to 15 years and sometimes even longer, and they can be pleasing on the eye when compared to silver amalgam fillings. They can be a bit more expensive than other filling options, however.
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