A dental filling replaces the part of a tooth lost from tooth decay, fracture or from tooth preparation. Dentistry offers patients choices. In the past, only amalgam was offered. Some patients worry about mercury in the body since research has proven mercury leaks into major organs. However, many dental authorities believe that it is safe. White filling materials have improved and are now used in back teeth. Years ago composite was not strong enough for molar teeth and wore away easily and quickly. Composites are a wonderful development and allow dentists to create natural looking beautiful smile.

          A dental filling should not hurt and having pain dental pain after this procedure is a bad sign. A dental restoration can not save a dying, diseased, or dead tooth. Sometimes a patient with constant tooth pain will insist that a tooth be filled instead of having a root canal. This is not good.

          A dental filling is only meant to restore half a tooth or less. When more than half a tooth is being reconstructed, a dental crown is the restoration of choice, not a filling. In some cases, a gold onlay is chosen instead of a dental crown but most people prefer natural looking porcelain crowns. If a restoration is too large it can act like a wedge and cause tooth fracture, especially since as a patient gets older, the teeth get brittle.

          A new development in Dentistry is the indirect dental filling. These are made outside of the mouth and bonded into a tooth. Creating the restoration outside of the patient's mouth gives the dentist more time to beautifully shape and carve it and to process the indirect restoration so that it is harder than normal fillings. If you need dental work and would like a free dental consultation appointment with Atlanta Cosmetic Dentist, Dr Mark Padolsky or Charles Chung DMD , please make an appointment by calling 404-874-7428.