Gold Fillings/Crowns?

Which of the two lasts longer when having a filling?





The traditional black one? Or is gold (although more expensive) longer lasting.





Is it cheaper in the long run to have gold fillings/crown?





Answers appreciated.

Gold Fillings/Crowns?
The amalgam (silver) fillings will last alot longer than the composite (white) fillings. As far as crowns go the gold crown is the strongest and the most expensive. So if you are thinking about having a filling done and it is on a molar or premolar then you should go with an amalgam filling. If you think that the filling is going to be really big and you are going to end up needing a crown on the tooth in the future then you should go ahead with the crown but I personally would not have a gold crown done. I would go with the Porcelain Fused Metal (PFM) crown because it is the same color as your teeth so no one would even know that it is a crown. They look better because they are more natural looking. These crowns are pretty strong too. If you do not grind your teeth really bad at night then the PFM crown will be just as effective as the gold crown. Good luck with whatever you choose to have done.
Reply:I have found, myself, that amalgam fillings last alot longer in the back teeth (like cuspids) and composite (white fillings) are great for the front teeth (as the white fillings are much preferred by dental patients) as so no one can see an amalgam filling when someone smiles. The composite fillings can be a little more expensive than amalgam ones, but are worth while for front teeth. A crown is far more expensive than just having fillings. It is best to discuss these options with your family dentist and discuss composite fillings for front teeth and amalgam for your back teeth. Alot of people don't like amalgam (for many different reasons) the main one being that they can look terrible to the naked eye when someone smiles and other reasons, including medical, which are best being discussed with either your dentist or GP. Composite fillings (white fillings) can be colour coded to suit the colour of your own teeth. Depending on your lifestyle, a composite filling can last a long time as can an amalgam filling, but not forgetting that fillings can come out and have to be replaced. If you seek a long term fix, I personally would go for a crown, where a crown can come out after sometime, but can always be put back in, if you have kept it, the dentist can reinsert the crown with dental cement. If the crown has become damaged (due to lifestyle) you would require to have another mould of your teeth to create another crown, (usually an extra cost can be involved, but best to discuss the cost with your dentist). If a filling has come out, there is usually a charge to have another one put in. Discuss this with your dentist also. Every dentist have their own costs for things, so if unsure, you should probably get a few opinions from your local dentists in regards to costs. Gold fillings are also expensive, but not necessarily the better option at times, depends on what your tooth/teeth needs. Hope this helps.
Reply:OK, so here's the deal in a nutshell. Gold is the standard by which ALL fillings are measured. They are the best but also the most costly. Silver amalgam usually is sufficient on back teeth unless the filling is large and then gold works better. However, you can have gold anyplace you want it.

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