RESTORATIVE DENTISTRY (FILLINGS):
The goal of treating cavities involves two basic principle:
- Removing the decayed portion of the tooth
- Rebuilding the missing tooth structure with a filling material.
Why you need to do a filling?
Fillings are done to stop the progression of the existing dental decay. The decay is excavated from the teeth and the cavity is restored.
How it is done?
The dentist, if needed begins the procedure with an injection of local anesthetic, to avoid sensitivity during the procedure. The tooth is isolated from the rest of the mouth, and in most cases, a high-speed dental device is needed to remove the decay and prepare the tooth for the filling.Destruction of Tooth may be from various ways like Tooth Decay, Erosion/Abrasion/Attrition of teeth (common tooth wears other than Tooth decay) or even Fracture of Tooth.
Which filling is good?
Tooth coloured natural looking Composite Restorations is the best in the current age. According to the Type of tooth destruction, the Type of Restoration (filling) can be planned to get a long life for the Restoration. The Tooth Destruction might be of proper Cavities or a non-cavitated wear in particular regions of tooth. Depending on the location and extent of cavity the material for restoration is selected.
What is the advantage of Tooth coloured over Silver Fillings ?
Composite Fillings are bonded to the tooth whereas silver fillings are mechanically retained requiring more amount of tooth reduction. Since there is no better seal , over a period of time leakage could occur around the silver filling and secondary decay may form underneath. This may be unnoticed and lead to pain requiring Root canal treatment.This is less likely to happen with Composite Fillings as they are bonded. Also tooth structure is much preserved as only the decayed portion is removed.
How long does the filling last?
Though it is less in strength than the Silver Fillings , its properties are closer to our natural teeth. So as the Enamel wears, the filling also wears over a period of 5 years and above depending on the maintenance of oral health. Even then it will require only a top up and no need to replace the entire filling. Moreover at Tooth town we use Rubber dams during the procedure to prevent the water and the materials entering the mouth and saliva doesn't contaminate the teeth increasing the success rate.
Is there anything that I should avoid eating ?
Since these are light cure Fillings, they set immediately . So You can eat anything as soon as you are out of the clinic and no restrictions of food type
Is it a painful process ?
Depending on the depth of the cavity, few people may have some sensitivity while removing the decay. If so, we will anesthetize with painless cartridge anesthesia, make you comfortable and proceed.
What are the types of fillings used?
- Composite: This is a tooth coloured restorative material which is a mixture of galss and ceramic, highly aesthetic and most preferred material. They are light cured and bond to tooth.
- Glass Ionomer Cement: This is also tooth colored, but not as esthetic as composite. They form a chemical bond to the tooth structure. They are used as semi - permanent filling.
- Silver Amalgam: Silver colored metallic filling material was used before for restoring the cavities. But now a days, they have been replaced with composites. The metallic filling expands and contracts while taking hot and cold foods. This causes microleakage between the filling and the tooth area, through which secondary decay can occur. In due course, this might lead to infection of pulp. And also they are not esthetic.
Composite Restorations:
This filling material is available in different shades matching to that of your teeth. This is the most effective and accurate way to build up broken or decayed tooth. This technique requires only less tooth preparation i.e, only where there is decay. The material is placed after etching the tooth and are bonded to the tooth with light cure.These fillings can be polished with special diamond impregnated bristles and paste to attain a lusture similar to enamel. The esthetics is so good that nobody will ever notice the difference.
After a tooth has been filled, it is not unusual for the tooth to be sensitive for a day or two. In general, the deeper the filling, the more likely the tooth will have prolonged sensitivity, especially to cold food or beverages. At this time such type of foods should be avoided for the time being. Most fillings should be completely comfortable within two weeks. As etching and bonding of prepared tooth Causes sensitivity after restoration , now-a-days Self etching and Bonding together are used, which has got almost nil post-restoration tooth sensitivity.
There are many places where these composites can be used.
- Decayed teeth restoration
- Fractured tooth repair
- Abrasions
- Cervical defects
- Veneering
- Closing Diastema (gaps between teeth)
When the decay is in the enamel or dentin one of the above mentioned fillings can be done accordingly. But once the decay spreads to the pulp, there will be pain in the tooth. In this stage the only option is to either save the tooth with Root canal treatment and subsequent capping or extraction of the tooth. Its always better to preserve the teeth, rather than removing it. Even badly destroyed teeth can be conserved and made to last for a long time with Root Canal treatment. So Why Destroy?, when we can Create it?!
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