Types of Tooth Fillings and Their Prices

Types of Dental Fillings, In our modern era, striving for perfection and attaining an attractive appearance has become a top priority for people, influenced by visual media that has captured much of our attention, interests, and time. Dental diseases are one of the obstacles to achieving the ideal look that many desire. Therefore, traditional methods have been replaced by filling techniques due to their significant cosmetic impact. In this article, we will explain all types of fillings and their prices in detail.

Types of Dental Fillings

There are many types of dental fillings, and the doctor recommends the suitable type for the patient’s condition. Dental fillings are chemical materials that replace cavities inside the tooth or fill the gap resulting from damage or breakage, preserving the tooth from extraction. Only the damaged part of the tooth is removed, while the rest of its structure is preserved. There are 5 types of fillings that differ in terms of material, efficiency, and components:

1. Gold fillings.
2. Mercury or silver fillings.
3. Glass fillings.
4. Porcelain fillings.
5. Zirconia fillings.
6. Composite.

Types of Dental Fillings and Prices

The variety of dental filling types gives the patient the freedom to choose the appropriate treatment method after consulting with their doctor. After learning about all types of fillings, let’s explore the average prices:

• Silver fillings start from 200 Egyptian pounds.
• Porcelain fillings may exceed 1750 Egyptian pounds.
• Laser fillings range between 350 and 700 Egyptian pounds.
• Gold and silver fillings range between $250 and $2500 and may slightly exceed this amount.
• Zirconia fillings exceed 3000 Egyptian pounds.

Discover the beauty of your smile with our The Dental Center! We recommend our high-quality permanent dental fillings at irresistible prices. A new smile and renewed confidence.

Best Types of Dental Fillings

1. Gold fillings: These are gold compounds that solve dental cavities or breakage issues. They are characterized by their ability to withstand pressure, as they are solid and can last with the patient for more than 15 years. They are suitable for both front teeth and back molars. However, they are expensive and can react with saliva or other existing fillings, causing electrical currents, making them unsafe.
2. Mercury or silver fillings: These are silver or mercury materials known for their high stability and resistance to other factors in the mouth, making them one of the best types used for deep cavities. They are inexpensive and affordable for all social classes. However, they do not match the color of the teeth, so they are used for filling back teeth. They require removing a large portion of the tooth to maintain their stability and can expand or contract with heat and cold, weakening the teeth and increasing the chances of breakage. Additionally, many patients have high sensitivity to these materials.
3. Glass fillings: These are acrylic materials reinforced with fluoride to resist cavities. They are more suitable for children. However, one of their major drawbacks is that they only last for 3 years, making them the weakest type of fillings.
4. Porcelain fillings: Also known as ceramic fillings, they are the most stable and durable type, lasting more than 15 years. However, they are more expensive than gold fillings.
5. Zirconia fillings: These are solid and strong fillings that reflect light on the teeth, giving them an attractive shine and luster. Their color is close to natural teeth and does not change over time, making them last for many years with the patient. However, they are among the most expensive types of fillings.
6. Composite: These are chemical materials used in laser dental fillings, which emerged in the late last century due to advanced technology and developments in the dental field. This technique relies on using a light device that emits various rays, helping to bond the fillings to the teeth when directed at the filling area, ensuring the highest degree of filling stability and preventing it from falling out. Composites are made of a mixture of resin and inorganic compounds such as silica, glass, or quartz, which give the teeth a shiny appearance, and finally, agents that bind this mixture to the inorganic compounds. Their advantages and disadvantages can be presented as follows:

Advantages: Maintaining an attractive appearance compared to other types of fillings due to the availability of different tooth color shades, low cost, and the fact that this technique does not require removing any part of the tooth crown, only a thin layer. It is used for front teeth and some back teeth due to its simplicity, cosmetic preservation of the teeth’s appearance, and strong stability.

Disadvantages: It is not suitable for use with back molars that require high strength to withstand the constant pressure during chewing or biting food. Laser fillings are not recommended for large cavities because they do not bond with tooth tissues and may fall out over time. The chemical materials used in these fillings can cause inflammation of the tooth nerve and gums, leading to swelling. In the case of laser filling, the patient requires continuous follow-up with the doctor as it is done in multiple sessions.

Types of Permanent Dental Fillings

The previously mentioned dental fillings are permanent fillings used to solve dental problems and improve their overall appearance. Let’s explore their benefits and drawbacks:

Benefits: The benefits of permanent dental fillings include solving all dental problems such as cavities, breakage, gaps, cracks, and discoloration, in addition to their cosmetic effect.

Drawbacks: One of the main drawbacks of permanent dental fillings is sensitivity to heat and cold, which usually subsides a few days after the filling procedure. These fillings are also prone to breaking or falling out due to pressure during chewing or biting, teeth colliding with each other, root infections, or cavities forming near the filling area.

What is meant by tooth decay?

Tooth decay is the damage of a part of the teeth, which progresses to rot if neglected over time. Cavities gradually form, and tooth decay is one of the most common dental problems, especially in childhood and adolescence, due to the sensitivity of teeth and bones during this period. It also occurs in adults due to neglecting and failing to regularly clean their teeth. If dental care is continually neglected, the cavities expand, causing severe tooth damage, excruciating pain, and inflammation, potentially leading to tooth loss and various gum diseases. To learn about treating tooth decay in children at home, read this article.

What are the causes of dental fillings?

Dental fillings are techniques used to treat dental problems, especially cavities, breakage, and protrusions, as an alternative to tooth extraction. The causes of using dental fillings can be detailed in the following points:

Cavities: They result from consuming sugary foods and excessive intake of carbonated and sweetened beverages, which create a fertile environment for mouth bacteria to grow, multiply, and feed on the tooth enamel, weakening it. The tooth becomes brittle, and germs grow, causing damage and rotting from the inside. This is one of the most common dental diseases due to neglecting regular cleaning with toothpaste and dental floss, smoking, and other forms of dental negligence.

Tooth sensitivity: Excessive consumption of acids, sugars, or hot and cold foods can make teeth more sensitive, causing them to erode, irritating the nerve and causing pain, and forming tartar.

Breakage: Severe accidents can cause tooth breakage or the loss of an old filling, requiring the sealing of cracks and the replacement of fallen fillings with new ones to preserve the teeth.

Cosmetic purposes: Some doctors resort to dental fillings for cosmetic reasons, such as to achieve a brilliant and shiny smile when teeth change color, develop stains, or when the gums recede, exposing the roots.

How are teeth filled?

There are different types of dental fillings, but the filling procedure is the same. Here are the steps a doctor follows when performing a filling:

1. Anesthetizing the affected area or gum.
2. Drilling the tooth to be filled.
3. Removing the decay from the tooth cavity.
4. Applying a resin liner to protect the nerve if the decay is close to it.
5. If the infection reaches the tooth root, a filling is applied to treat it in subsequent consecutive sessions.
6. Smoothing the filling surface with the tooth surface to remove any protrusions.

To learn more about dental fillings, you can read this article.

Tooth Pain After Filling

Tooth filling is one of the most effective treatment methods in case of decay or cracking, but some pain may occur after the filling procedure due to the following reasons:

1. Consuming solid foods that require pressure during chewing or biting.
2. Cold and hot foods and beverages.
3. Sweets and sugar-rich beverages.
4. Acidic fruits and vegetables.
5. Nerve inflammation, where inflammation occurs in the tooth nerve in cases of deep tooth cavity fillings, where the decay is deep and close to the nerve, and pain persists for days after the filling.
6. In some cases, the filling shifting from its correct position is a major cause of pain.
7. Pulpitis or inflammation of the tooth pulp if the decay is deep and has reached the depth of the tooth cavity or if the tooth has been filled before.
8. An infection during the filling procedure and not taking the antibiotic prescribed by the doctor.

Don’t worry about tooth pain after filling at our The Dental Center! We provide comfortable and painless solutions.

Risks of Dental Fillings

While dental fillings have many benefits, there are also some risks:

1. Infection: It is possible to be exposed to bacteria or any infection that can contaminate the tooth surface and may reach deeper into the tooth or bloodstream.
2. Bleeding: A scratch or wound during the filling procedure can lead to the tearing of some blood vessels.
3. Anesthesia: Some people may have sensitivity to anesthetic materials, which can cause a drop in blood circulation.
4. Sensitivity to heat or cold.
5. Damaging some nerves during the filling procedure, which can lead to a loss of the sense of taste.

Important Instructions After Dental Fillings

There are some instructions that should be followed after dental fillings to avoid any complications and ensure the success of the filling procedure. Here are the most important ones:

1. Gently brush your teeth with a suitable toothpaste for tooth sensitivity during this period.
2. Use dental floss to remove food residue between teeth.
3. Drink sufficient amounts of water and avoid cold water.
4. Avoid solid foods to prevent putting pressure on the fillings during chewing or biting, which can cause them to shift or become damaged.
5. Avoid sticky foods to prevent them from sticking to the fillings.

Signs That Indicate the Need to Replace a Dental Filling

There are signs that indicate the need to replace a dental filling to prevent complications from occurring due to its shifting from its correct position or cracking or breaking. These include:

• Persistent pain in the filled tooth for an extended period without interruption.
• Cracks appearing in the tooth, indicating excessive pressure on the filling and its unsuitability after that.
• Gaps appearing in the filling and feeling food entering it.

If the aforementioned signs appear, it is essential to consult the treating doctor promptly to prevent serious complications that cannot be solved later, which may lead to the loss of the entire tooth or molar.