The most typical procedure for healing a decaying tooth is filling. It is utilized for the repair process following traumatic injury, pulpitis therapy, and decay (chips, fractures). Generally speaking, it allows you to maintain the tooth’s anatomical integrity and regular functioning while also stopping future growth of deterioration processes, particularly decay.
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Suitable situations and prohibitions for placing dental fillings
The following situations call for the placement of fillings:
- Decay treatment.
- Repairing damage caused by a severe event, such as enamel chips, fractures, or deep cracks that compromise the tooth's roots.
- Increased abrasion of the enamel surface as a result of irresponsible handling of the teeth, such as biting nails or opening objects that are hard.
As a result, installing fillings is not contraindicated, albeit there may be limitations depending on the materials utilized. For instance, some materials are not utilized on front teeth because they differ greatly from enamel in appearance.
Types of tooth fillings by installation time
Permanent and temporary tooth fillings are differentiated by the installation timing. When the therapy must be separated into many parts, a temporary filling is placed. As a result, its operational time is limited—to a maximum of two weeks. It does so in the following circumstances:
- The treatment of severe decay, necessitates determining whether pulp removal is essential. After the tissues are removed, a temporary filling is placed in the cavity and a few days are allowed to pass. A permanent filling is put in if the patient is not bothered by the tooth, but if they are, the procedure is continued.
- Pulpitis treatment. A temporary filling will keep pathogenic microorganisms from entering the tooth cavity and will isolate the medication still in the canal cavity.
- The manufacturing of ceramic inlays. For many days, inlays are created in the lab, during which time the treated cavity must be shut.
- A lot of therapeutic interventions when the patient finds it physically challenging to spend hours upon hours in the dentist's chair.
Temporary fillings are often made of zinc oxide, although they can also be made of light polymers and glass ionomer cement. The dentist decides what is required based on the clinical circumstances.
After the work is finished, a permanent filling is put in. Its major objectives are to repair the damage caused when dental tissues were destroyed and to stop a secondary pathological process from developing. Permanent fillings can last anywhere from a few years and several decades, depending on the material used in construction and the state of the tooth.
Variety of tooth fillings by materials
Modern dentistry uses a variety of fillings, which is understandable and justified because it is impossible to develop a material that would simultaneously satisfy all of the requirements of dentists and their patients, including ease of application and preparation, strength, and aesthetics. It should also be similar to “living” tissues and resist abrasion. Due to the large and intricate professional classifications and features of filler materials, their analysis only touches on broad concepts.
Dental fillings made of amalgams are composed of specific metal compounds.
They are used to restore molars and premolars, which are chewing teeth.
Cement fillings.
These fillings, which are based on dental cement, are regarded as dental classics, particularly for young patients. A combination of metal oxides is used to make dental cement (zinc, silicon, magnesium, aluminium). It has been a common filler for a long time.
Composite materials.
Modern composite fillings are a blend of polymers, fibres, and fluid fillers. Composite fillings require light curing, chemical curing, or a combination of the two.
Installing a tooth filling in stages
A tooth filling is always installed over the course of numerous steps. The first is receiving dental care. The problematic tissues are removed at this point, the pulp’s condition is evaluated, the nerve may be removed if necessary, periodontitis is treated, and the canals are filled. A local anaesthetic is used during these manoeuvres. Insulating pads and medical inserts are utilized to fill the resultant cavity in cases of severe decay without pulpitis. After that, a filling can be added.
Following is the installation procedure:
- The cavity is prepared, and a layer of photopolymer is applied.
- To harden the substance, it is treated with ultraviolet radiation.
- An irradiated photopolymer is put in layers and exposed to the process many times.
- The filling is ultimately honed and polished.
- After-filling care advice
Observing the following guidelines will help the filling last longer:
- Brush your teeth at least twice a day, on a regular basis.
- Have a professional clean your teeth once every six months to eliminate plaque and calculus and polish the filling.
The size of the filling and the material used in its creation will determine how much a tooth will cost to treat. Cement, plastic, and amalgam are the least expensive materials. Ceramic inlays are the priciest. Light polymers are the best option because they are practical and attractive.
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