So, you have a cavity and need to schedule a follow-up appointment to get a filling. The good news is that Dr. Srinivasan, your Huntsville, AL dentist can save your tooth and bolster your smile with a skillfully applied filling. Here are three things you should know about your filling options:

1. Silver Amalgam Fillings

These are the most common cavity fillings available. As the name suggests, it’s a silver-colored mixture of metals including silver, tin, copper, zinc, and mercury. It’s a strong, cost-effective, dental filling with a lifespan of 12+ years. Their obvious non-tooth-colored appearance, however, makes them visible to others, especially if the cavity is closer to the front of your mouth.

2. Tooth-Colored Fillings

There are three basic types of tooth-colored fillings: composite, ceramic, and glass isomer. Composite fillings are a blend of resin and plastic. Ceramic fillings are porcelain. A silica blend makes glass isomer fillings. Each of these fillings works best under certain, patient-specific circumstances. For example, ceramic fillings work better in larger cavities than composite fillings.

3. Which Type of Dental Filling Do I Need?

If you have a cavity, our Huntsville dentist Dr. Srinivasan will discuss your overall health needs, specific cavity issues, and cosmetic dentistry preferences. Your choice of cavity-filling materials will depend on how big the cavity is, where the cavity is, and if you have any health conditions that might be affected by silver amalgam fillings. In 2020, the FDA recommended against silver amalgam fillings (which contain mercury) for women who are pregnant or nursing, children under 6, and people with certain pre-existing health conditions.

Cavity Fillings with the Dentist Huntsville, AL Neighbors Trust

When you schedule your cavity-filling appointment, Dr. Srinivasan, your Huntsville, AL dentist will discuss your cavity fillings with you to determine which will be the safest, most protective, cost-effective, and cosmetically pleasing option. Schedule an appointment today!