Did you know that when you go to the dentist, you often have a choice as to what kind of fillings you can get for cavities? Dental patients as well as their dentists have choices when it comes to selection of materials used to fill cavities, or to repair damage in decayed or cracked teeth, as well as filling gaps in the gum line where teeth are missing.

Did you know that there are nearly a half dozen common dental fillings used in dental offices today? These include:

• Amalgam fillings – made of the combination of silver, mercury, copper and tin. This type of filling is considered extremely stable, safe, and durable.
• Composite fillings – created from mixing glass or quartz fillers into a medium that contains resin. This type of filling is ideal for small to moderately sized repairs.
• Ionomers – tooth colored and translucent materials made of a combination of fine glass powder and acrylic acids.
• Gold alloys – containing combinations of gold and copper, gold alloy fillings are extremely strong and resist wear and tear.
• Base metal alloys – this type of alloy creates a silvery appearance often used to create bridges, dentures and crowns.
• Indirect composites – best utilized in the use of inlays and is similar to materials used in fillings. These composites are tooth colored, but are more prone to wear and tear as well as discoloration.

In the United States, the average cost of fillings may range between $75 and $145 per tooth for basic metals, and between $150 and $250 for resin and composite filling. However, travelers venturing to destinations such as High Tech Dental Clinic in San Jose, Costa Rica or Twoj Dentysta in Poznan, Poland, offer low cost and high quality dental care at a fraction of the cost of those found for the same services in the United States.