The cost of a filling can vary greatly, depending on who you go
to, the type of filling and degree of restoration required. An amalgam ("silver/mercury
filling") is cheaper than a composite (white/resin filling), but will last
significantly longer if you are unconcerned about aesthetics and the back and
forth debate over whether or not amalgams may be linked to other health
issues. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the American
Dental Association (ADA) found there is no danger from an amalgam filling, but
some specialists and consumers remain unconvinced by the findings.
One of the ways to find out the actual range of cost is to just
call a local dentist from the internet and ask them. You are going to find some hesitancy to quote
over the phone because each person presents a different set of restorative
circumstances, but you should be able to get a range of costs or a free consultation.
While costs vary from one area to the next and from one office to
the next, the cost of typical amalgam filling ranges from approximately $75 to
$175 per filling, whereas a composite resin filling ranges from $125 to $300
for a single surface restoration. You should
expect about 3 to five years (possibly 7 years) of use from the composite and
as many as 20 years or longer from an amalgam restoration. Actually a well-cared-for amalgam filling can
last a lifetime, so the expensiveness of the filling really becomes a minor
consideration.
Restorative
circumstances
are going to vary from tooth to tooth and decay may be found in one small spot
or throughout a tooth. The restorative fees are based on the number of surfaces
needing filling in a single tooth. A
silver amalgam filling on one or two surfaces averages $75 to $175, while for
three or more surfaces it could go as high as $120 to $300 or more. The same type of logic follows with respect
to composite restorations. Since composite resin
fillings are more time consuming and require greater skills to completion they
are more expensive than amalgam fillings and weigh in on the more expensive
side of caries restorations.
Typically dental insurance covers most or all of the costs of a
silver amalgam filling, but only 50 to 80 percent of the cost of a composite
filling because the higher charge for the tooth-colored material is considered
a cosmetic option. One exception is when an old amalgam filling is cracked or broken
and is replaced with a composite filling.
Your
dentist
should be advising you of the type of filling based on the size of the cavity
and the location of the tooth in your mouth.
Amalgams are more likely to be placed in the back of your mouth while
composites are more likely to be used on more-visible front teeth. WebMD.com gives an overview of typical
filling procedures and Colgate.com lists pros and cons of
different types of fillings.
Amalgam
Advantages
- Amalgam
fillings are strong and can withstand the forces of chewing.
- They are
relatively inexpensive and last a long time, compared with alternatives.
- An amalgam
filling is completed in one dental visit.
Amalgam
Disadvantages
- Amalgam
doesn't match the color of your teeth.
- Healthy
parts of your tooth often must be removed to make a space large enough to
hold an amalgam filling.
- Amalgam
fillings can corrode or tarnish over time, causing discoloration where the
filling meets the tooth.
- A traditional
amalgam filling does not bond (stick) to your tooth, so the cavity
preparation developed by your dentist requires undercuts or ledges to
provide retention of the filling. Your
dentist may have to
remove additional tooth structure to establish good retention for the
filling.
- Some people
may be allergic to mercury or be concerned about its effects, although
research shows the amount of mercury exposure from fillings is
similar to what people get from other sources in the environment.
Composite
Advantages
- Your
fillings will match the color of your teeth and therefore undetectable.
- A filling should
be completed in one dental visit.
- Composite
fillings can bond directly to the tooth, making the tooth stronger than it
would be with an amalgam filling.
- Less
drilling is involved than with amalgam fillings because your dentist does
not have to shape the space as much to hold the filling securely. The bonding process holds the composite
resin in the tooth.
- Indirect composite
fillings are heat and light cured increasing their strength.
- Composite
resin can be used in combination with other materials, such as glass
ionomer, to provide the benefits of both materials.
Composite
Disadvantages
- Although
composite resins have become stronger and more resistant to wear, they
generally don’t last as long as amalgam fillings under the pressure of
chewing.
- The
composite may shrink when placed; this can lead to more cavities in the
future in areas where the filling is not making good contact with your
tooth.
- This
restoration takes more time and skill to place because they are usually
placed in layers. The increased time and labor involved also contribute to
the higher cost (compared with amalgam fillings).
- Indirect
fillings and inlays take at least two visits to complete. Your dentist
takes impressions at the first visit and places the filling or inlay at
the second visit.
- In large
restorations, composites may not last as long as amalgam fillings.
The trick is to find a qualified, well trained dentist, and that
requires you to educate yourself about the dentist you choose and a basic
knowledge about dentistry. If we can be
of service or answer any questions or concerns please feel free to contact
us, we’re just a stone’s
throw from Cobb County.
Novy Scheinfeld, DDS, PC
290 Carpenter Drive, 200A
Atlanta (Sandy Springs), GA 30328
404-256-3620
info@rightsmilecenter.com
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