Do Fillings Make Your Teeth Weaker?

What Are Dental Fillings?

They are oral materials in dentistry that help restore diseased teeth’ enamels. At Brentwood Dental Art, our dentists use dental fillings primarily for treating decayed teeth. Patients with cavities on teeth require a foreign material to fill the hole and seal the tooth to disallow the entry of bacteria.

What Are Dental Fillings?

They are oral materials in dentistry that help restore diseased teeth’ enamels. At Brentwood Dental Art, our dentists use dental fillings primarily for treating decayed teeth. Patients with cavities on teeth require a foreign material to fill the hole and seal the tooth to disallow the entry of bacteria.

The Types of Dental Fillings Used in Dentistry

Before receiving dental filling services, at least know of the available materials that you can choose for your treatment. Tooth filling vary based on the materials they feature. The common types are:

  • Amalgams – are the most common dental fillings, also known as silver fillings. They are inexpensive compared to their counterparts and are perfect for restoring molars and premolars after dental decay. Amalgams features a metal alloy with silver as the primary component, comprising a sturdy material that can preserve your natural teeth for up to 15 years or more.
  • Gold fillings – are alternative metal-based fillings that feature a gold metal alloy. The difference is the gold component, which presents a luxury factor for many patients. Gold fillings are also very sturdy for supporting daily functions of the teeth, with a duration of about 20 years or more.
  • Composite fillings – are tooth-colored tooth fillings praised for their aesthetic component in restorative dentistry. The composite resin is available in various shades of white to match the standard color of natural teeth. Composites are a great option for conservative patients who cannot compromise their aesthetic appearance. Although not as sturdy as gold or silver fillings, composites can last about ten years with proper care.
  • Porcelain or ceramic fillings – are tooth-colored alternatives to composite fillings. They feature a sturdy material, porcelain, which provides similar benefits to composite fillings. The fillings are sturdy, lasting more than 20 years with proper care.
  • Glass ionomers – are special types of fillings typical for creating dental sealants. These dental fillings are common in pediatric dentistry for preventive dental care.

How Tooth Fillings Make Teeth Stronger

Tooth fillings in Los Angeles do not weaken your teeth. Instead, tooth fillings play a significant role in strengthening your teeth, increasing their lifespan regardless of the damage initially incurred.

Dental fillings replace the damaged parts of your tooth structure. Ideally, the dentist near you will trim parts of your diseased tooth enamel while cleaning off bacteria. After the damaged part is out, your dentist will use a tooth-filling material to restore your tooth’s structure. If left as is, your tooth would be too weak and too exposed to bacteria to function correctly. The filling material is necessary to reinstate the strength and functionality of your tooth.

One of the ways that dentists work to preserve your tooth is by removing a small amount of your tooth enamel. It usually depends on the depth and extent of your cavity. The more extensive a tooth cavity is, the more tooth enamel must be removed before filling the tooth. Once ready, the dentist will then select a suitable filling material to treat your tooth.

The filling will blend well with your natural tooth enamel, reinforcing its strength. Should your dentist determine that you require extra reinforcement for your tooth, they will recommend getting a dental crown over the tooth. It is often the case when the filling on your tooth is too large that it may become overbearing to the remaining natural tooth structure.

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Benefits of Dental Fillings

If you are hesitant about tooth fillings for your damaged teeth, consider the following benefits:

  • Strengthening teeth – the weaker part of your tooth replaces with a filling material, which will strengthen your entire tooth.
  • Restoring functionality – the ability to chew food devoid of pain is possible after you get a tooth filling for all your decayed teeth.
  • Tooth fillings can be aesthetically pleasing – if you are keen on your aesthetics, opt for a tooth-colored dental filling that closest matches the color of your natural teeth.

Durability – dental fillings do not wear off quickly. The earliest you may be concerned about the state of your dental fillings should be about ten years after your treatment.