The materials guide
What your fillings and crowns are made of
A plain-words guide to the materials in this office, written so you can ask better questions at your visit.
This guide explains dental materials. It doesn't say any material is better for your health, and it is not a substitute for medical care. If you are worried about how a material affects your general health, talk with your physician as well, and we'll share records with them when you ask us to in writing.
The materials side by side
What each is made of, what it is often used for and what is worth asking about.
| Material | Made of | Often used for | Worth asking about |
|---|---|---|---|
| Composite resin | Made ofPlastic with fine glass or ceramic particles | Often used forFillings, and repairs to chipped edges | Worth asking aboutColor match, and how a large one will wear |
| Glass ionomer | Made ofGlass powder and a water-based acid | Often used forNear the gumline, baby teeth, short-term fillings | Worth asking aboutIt is softer than composite |
| Amalgam | Made ofSilver, tin and copper bound with liquid mercury | Often used forBack-tooth fillings (not placed here) | Worth asking aboutHow an existing one is holding up |
| Porcelain and ceramics | Made ofGlass-based ceramic | Often used forCrowns, onlays and veneers | Worth asking aboutYour bite, and whether you grind |
| Zirconia | Made ofZirconium dioxide ceramic | Often used forCrowns and bridges | Worth asking aboutHow hard it is against the opposing tooth |
| Gold alloys | Made ofGold with metals such as platinum or copper | Often used forCrowns and onlays | Worth asking aboutMetal allergies, and how it looks |
The long version
The same materials with a few more sentences each.
Composite resin: the tooth-colored filling
A mix of plastic and fine glass or ceramic particles. It is placed in thin layers and hardened with a blue light. It bonds to the tooth, so less of the tooth has to be shaped away, and the color can be matched to your teeth. Over the years it can stain or wear, and a large filling may need to be redone sooner than a small one.
Glass ionomer: the filling that sets on its own
Glass powder mixed with a water-based acid. It sets without a light, bonds to the tooth and gives off a little fluoride. It is softer than composite, so it is used where there is less chewing force: near the gumline, on baby teeth, or as a short-term filling.
Amalgam: the silver-colored filling
Silver, tin and copper mixed with liquid mercury, which binds them into a hard filling. It has been used for well over a century and it is strong. We place composite here, not amalgam. If you have amalgam fillings that are holding up, Dr. DeJesus leaves them alone and checks their edges at your exams. She tells you when one needs to be redone and why.
Porcelain and other ceramics: crowns, onlays and veneers
Glass-based ceramics are tooth-colored and are milled or pressed into a shape that covers or replaces part of a tooth. Some are strong enough for back teeth. Some are thin and can chip under a heavy bite, so we talk about your bite and any grinding before choosing one.
Zirconia: a very hard ceramic
Zirconium dioxide, used for crowns and bridges. It is strong and is often chosen for teeth that take a lot of force. Because it is so hard, we check how your teeth meet and whether you grind, so it doesn't wear the tooth it bites against.
Gold and other metal alloys
Gold mixed with metals such as platinum, palladium or copper. It wears at about the rate of enamel and has a long record in crowns and onlays, and it doesn't look like a tooth. Some people react to certain metals. If you have an allergy or a sensitivity, tell us and we'll note it on your chart.
How to choose between them
Every material is a trade: strength, look, cost, how much of the tooth it takes and how long it tends to last. Dr. DeJesus tells you which she would use for your tooth and why, and what else could do the job. This page explains dental materials. It is not a substitute for medical care, and a question about how a material affects your general health belongs with your physician as well.
Questions worth bringing
You don't need to know the words. Any of these will do.
What is it made of?
Dr. DeJesus names the material and what is in it.
What else could you use?
She lays out at least one other choice and what it would mean for the tooth.
How long do they tend to last?
A range, not a promise. Your bite, your habits and the size of the repair change it.
What happens if I wait?
Sometimes nothing, and she says so. Sometimes the tooth gets harder to repair.
Will you check my old fillings?
Yes. She looks at their edges at your exams and tells you whether one needs attention.
I have an allergy or a sensitivity.
Say so. We note it on your chart and plan around it.
Questions about materials
Do you place amalgam?
No. We place composite. We don't replace a sound amalgam filling just because of what it is made of. We check its edges at your exams and tell you if it needs to be redone.
Is a tooth-colored filling stronger?
Not always. Composite bonds to the tooth, which can mean less tooth is removed. A large filling in a back tooth may do better as a crown. She explains which and why.
Can a dental material make me sick?
That is a medical question, and your physician is the right person for it. If you've had a reaction to a metal or a plastic, tell us and we'll note it and avoid the material. With your written permission we'll talk with your physician.
Do you remove old fillings to improve my health?
No. We replace a filling when it is cracked, leaking at the edge or has decay under it. We don't treat or claim to treat any condition by removing a filling.
Ask about your own teeth
Send a request and Wes will call or text you back with a time.