When we eat or drink, the foods and beverages that we consume will stick to our teeth. If we fail to clean our teeth properly, these food particles will turn into bacteria, which then transforms into s sticky film substance called plaque. The plaque then produces acid that eats away at our tooth enamel, causing cavities. Over time, the cavities penetrate through the enamel into the dentin (the underlying tooth structure), making dental fillings a necessity.
There are three main kinds of fillings, namely:
- Amalgam fillings – the silver fillings.
- Gold fillings
- Composite fillings
Composite fillings are currently the most common used fillings, as it is tooth coloured, making it near invisible. Composite fillings were created as an alternative to traditional metal dental fillings, as composite fillings are more aesthetically pleasing.