Fillings, Porcelain Inlays & Onlays
In the United States, approximately 92% of people between the ages of 20 and 34 have at least one cavity according to the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2004. Many options are available to treat cavities, there are two types of fillings: Direct and Indirect.
Direct Fillings:
As WebMD simply puts it, “To treat a cavity your dentist will remove the decayed portion of the tooth and then “fill” the area on the tooth where the decayed material was removed.” Dentists also use fillings to put together teeth that have cracked, are broken, or are eroded from nail-biting and tooth-grinding. Nowadays, there are several types of dental fillings to choose from: gold, porcelain, silver amalgam (a mix of silver, other metals, and Mercury), white, plastic, and glass.
But, here, at T Dental, we prefer white fillings—or “composite fillings.” This type of filling is more popular, takes the color of your teeth (unlike silver amalgam), and it does not have Mercury in it.
Indirect Fillings: Inlays, Onlays
Inlays and Onlays can be made out of porcelain, porcelain substrate, Zirconia, or gold. They follow the curvature of the anatomy of your tooth with all the grooves and cusps.
Being made in the lab they are more sturdy than conventional fillings and can prevent the tooth from fracturing or developing another cavity.
Our dental professionals will be able to answer all your questions, present all treatment options available for you and help you to make the right decision in choosing the restoration that fit your needs the most.