Ceramic fillings are porcelain restorations that are used to repair decayed or fractured teeth. They are highly aesthetic and the strongest form of dental fillings.
When a tooth has a "hole"/decay, it needs to be removed to prevent the progression of the decay and extensive breakdown of dental tissue. Once removed and cleaned, the cavity needs to be restored again. This is done with ceramic fillings, known as Inlays or Onlays. Ceramic fillings are custom designed in the practice with the aid of Cerec CAD/CAM technology and made to fit as accurately and beautifully as possible.
There are 3 types of fillings in dentistry - ceramic, composite and amalgam. Amalgam (better known as silver fillings) contain Mercury, a chemical which is toxic to humans, and thus rarely used in modern dentistry. Due to the composition and colour of Amalgam fillings they tend to discolour teeth with the added complication of causing fractures within the restoration itself or surrounding tooth structure. If you have any silver fillings you wish to remove, please contact us today. In most cases, silver fillings are not worth the health risks. (See Research page for articles).
At Melrose Dental Studio we perform metal-free dentistry and recommend repairing ceramic fillings for all our patients in Johannesburg, Melrose, Rosebank, Lindin, Greenside, Parktown, Sandhurst, Morningside and Illovo.