And sometimes, a filling just falls out and needs to be replaced. You may be fortunate enough to never need a replacement filling.īut odds are that, over the course of your life, a filling may crack or wear down to a point where it’s no longer protecting the tooth from further decay. They’re weaker than other fillings and are typically used for small cavities near the gumline, not on chewing surfaces. Glass ionomer fillings are made with a kind of glass and acrylic and can be placed directly in the tooth. Ceramic fillings need to be made by a dental lab or milling machine and glued into the tooth.

However, they’re even more expensive than gold restorations and are among the least common types of fillings available. Ceramic and glass ionomer fillingsĬeramic fillings are made with a type of porcelain and may last 15 years or longer. Gold fillings last an average of 20 years or more, according to the American Dental Association (ADA). Gold fillingsĪs you might imagine, gold fillings are much more expensive than amalgam or composite restorations.īut they’re also more durable. The materials used for composite fillings are also used to repair chipped teeth and fill in small gaps between teeth. Research from 2014 has shown that they can last 10 years or more if fillings are smaller and patients have good oral health.

But they last on average about 7 years, according to a 2010 study. They’re made from a combination of acrylic and ceramic resins.Ĭomposite fillings chemically bond with the surrounding tooth with an adhesive.

have a neurological condition or kidney problemsĬomposite fillings are popular with patients because the color can often be matched to the color of the surrounding teeth.

are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or breastfeeding.

You should not have a mercury amalgam filling if you: With mercury amalgam fillings, there may be a risk of toxicity. Research from 2008 put the survival rate of amalgam fillings provided by private dental practices between 7.1 and 44.7 years. They remain the least expensive type of filling you can have and may also be the most durable.Ī 2016 study found that the average age of an amalgam filling at the time it needed to be replaced was about 15 years, give or take 6 years on average. They’re an amalgam or mixture of silver, copper, and tin alloy particles as well as elemental mercury.ĭentists have been using amalgam fillings for more than 150 years. These are also known as silver fillings, though they contain more metals than just silver. There are four main types of fillings, but two - amalgam and composite fillings - are the most common.

Gold filling mummy