What dental filling materials do we use at Courtney Dental

When getting a filling/restoration done there are choices over what material can be used. White composite, silver amalgam, porcelain or even gold. They all have their advantages and disadvantages, and in some cases we have to use a particular material for the area we are restoring. Read below to learn about the different types of dental restoration materials.

Silver amalgam restoration
Over the years silver fillings otherwise known as amalgam, have not being very popular within the public. However most dental professional have silver fillings in their own mouth! The mercury in amalgam is bound in silver, tin and copper. Once the amalgam is set, there is no liquid mercury present, and it does not prevent a health risk. The Australian Dental Asssociation  (ADA) maintains that dental amalgam remains a safe, affordable and durable cavity filling choice for dental patients. These are usually the cheapest option and last on average 7-10 years. 

White filling material, resin composite 
Resin composite fillings are made of ceramic and plastic compounds, resin mimics the appearance of natural teeth which is why they are popular are a cheaper alternative to porcelain or gold. They typically have a shorter life span of 5-7 years, and are more expensive than the silver fillings.

Porcelain/ceramic fillings
Porcelain is a stronger material than both the silver and white filling material. They are very aesthetic due to being tooth coloured, however they are more expensive. They also last longer then the silver and white fillings.

Gold fillings
These are the most expensive option because they last the longest and are typically the best product. Gold has been used in dentistry for filling cavities since the 19th century. Gold is used in dentistry because it is nearly immune to corrosion and closely mimics the hardness of natural teeth, thereby causing no harm to natural teeth during chewing.

The Australian Dental Association recommends that there is no clinical justification for removing any clinically satisfactory fillings, including amalgam fillings, to replace them with another type of filling material. Unless there is a legitimate reason to replace a filling, whether is be cracked, decaying or failing, it is better to keep the one you have. 
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As always if you have an questions please call us on 
07 4725 3366