Metal Vs. Plastic Fillings: Which Is Better For You?
Posted on 4/11/2022 by Dr. Frank K. Sioda
It's a question we hear all the time, and it can be challenging to answer. Which is better? Metal or plastic fillings? The truth of the matter is that both metal and plastic have their pros and cons. If you need a dental restoration done, your dentist will help you determine what is best for your case. In this blog post, we will explore some of the considerations when choosing between metal or plastic fillings.
What is a filling, and what does it do for your teeth?
A filling is used to restore the tooth surface after damage, such as decay or fracture. It's a restoration that we can do in our office; it does not require surgery, and you will likely get a local anesthetic during this procedure. Your teeth may remain sensitive for some time afterward. However, they should return to normal within two weeks of the appointment.
Fillings are typically made out of metal or plastic compounds. The most common types are resin-based composites which bond with your natural tooth enamel using light-curing technology from dental lasers. There are several different colors available, so these materials blend nicely into your smile!
Metal or Plastic Fillings - which one should you get?
Metal fillings are made from a mix of metals and other ingredients, such as mercury or zinc, with added alloys. These metal materials will help strengthen the tooth structure and conduct heat so these types can be used for hot liquids like coffee or tea. There is no color option available with this type of filling; however, your dentist may use porcelain material on top if you prefer white teeth rather than silver-colored ones.
Plastic fillings contain plastics that mimic the properties of natural enamel, which means they're not as strong as metal compounds, but they aren't brittle either! They typically come in both direct and indirect forms. In natural resin-based composite filling, the material is placed directly into a deep cavity without additional preparation. Indirect fillings are used when there's not enough tooth structure left to hold the filling in place so that it will be bonded onto existing teeth for support.
The pros of getting plastic fillings include being able to get them almost anywhere on your mouth, and you can also have multiple cavities done at once! Another benefit is that this type has been shown to fight bacterial growth, which may help with future preventative dental care efforts.
We hope you've found this blog post informative and helpful. If you have any questions or want to schedule an appointment, please don't hesitate to call our office at (503) 765-9699. You can also contact us through email by filling out the form on our website: www.
Talk to one of our caring patient coordinators today to schedule an appointment.
Dr. Frank Sioda 18676 Willamette Dr. Suite 202 West Linn, OR 97068-1718
Dental Blog | Dentist West Linn | ZenTech Dentistry Dr. Frank Sioda of ZenTech Dentistry has created this informative blog to help educate the community about a variety of dental topics. Learn more here. ZenTech Dentistry - Frank K. Sioda, DMD, PC, 18676 Willamette Dr., Suite 202, West Linn, OR 97068-1718 + (503) 765-9699 + zentechdentistry.com + 10/3/2024 + Page Phrases: dentist West Linn +
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It's a question we hear all the time, and it can be challenging to answer. Which is better? Metal or plastic fillings? The truth of the matter is that both metal and plastic have their pros and cons. If you need a dental restoration done, your dentist will help you determine what is best for your case. In this blog post, we will explore some of the considerations when choosing between metal or plastic fillings.