What is a tooth filling?

Dental tooth restoration

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.

Table of Contents

Suitable situations and prohibitions for placing dental fillings

The following situations call for the placement of fillings:

dental filling

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

dental filling

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:

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

dental filling

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:

dental filling

Observing the following guidelines will help the filling last longer:

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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