What is filling?
Filling is a method that gives back a tooth that is damaged due to caries or to your teeth its old function and appearance. During the process of filling, your dentist first removes the decayed tooth tissue. He/she cleans the affected area of the decay and fills that cavity with filling material to prevent the bacteria from entering into the tooth and decaying it.
Which department deals with filler treatment?
Patients who want to have filling treatment can apply to restorative dental treatment department.
What materials are used for filling treatment?
With the advancement of today’s technology, many different materials are used in filling treatment. Filling types are generally 4 types: amalgam filler, composite filler, gold filler and ionomer filler. The doctor usually decides which type of filler to use.
Which filler is preferred where?
Composite fillings are preferred if the caries of the patient to be filled in are located in the front. However, amalgam fillers are usually preferred for the back teeth.
How is filling done?
Once your dentist decides on filling treatment, first he/she will clear the decayed tissue from the teeth and clean the affected area. The cleaned space is then filled with one of the materials mentioned above.
How do we know we need fillers?
Your dentist will decide whether you need fillings or not. When you go to the dentist for examination, he/she can determine if your caries need to be filled. A small mirror tool is used during the dental examination. Everything abnormally observed is checked with the aid of a special device. If necessary, your dentist may want to take an x-ray of a part of your mouth. It varies depending on the extent of the damage caused by the caries with the treatment chosen by the dentist.
What is the Best Filling Type?
As mentioned above, the types of fillers vary according to the treatment method by the doctor. Let’s examine what kinds of fillers there are.
Amalgam filling: It is used as a filling material consisting of a mixture of silver, zinc, copper and mercury. Mercury forms up to 50% of this filling material. Amalgam fillings are usually used for the filling of posterior teeth. It is preferred because it is a little cheaper method.
What are the advantages of amalgam filling?
- More robust than other fillers
- Fillings are completed in a single sitting.
What are the disadvantages of amalgam filling?
- Because it is darker, it shows inconsistency with the color of the tooth, so it is preferred in the back teeth.
- In order to make this filling, tissue is also removed from the healthy parts of the tooth.
- Does not integrate with teeth.
- Not recommended for people with allergies to mercury and may be harmful to health.
Composite filler: It is a filling material consisting of very fine glass particles and plastic mixture and there are direct and indirect types of this filling. After taking a measurement with the help of a camera, the filling material is prepared at a different location and placed in the place where the filling will be made. It is preferred for the most visible front teeth.
What are the advantages of composite filling?
- Since the filling color is not different from the tooth, it looks natural.
- In the filling process, it is performed at once instead of repeated operations.
- They integrate with the tooth and are more robust than amalgam fillings.
Disadvantages of composite filling
- It may cause tooth decay due to contractions in the future.
- Making fillings takes a longer time.
Golden filling: It is made by adding gold to other filling materials and can last for 7 years or even longer. It is more expensive than amalgam filling and composite filling. They are stainless and resistant to chewing power. The high cost of labor and gold, and the longer process increase the cost of this filling.
Glass ionomer: It is a filling material consisting of a combination of acrylic and glass. Anterior teeth are more preferred and the adjustment period is close to 5 years. The advantage of filling is that it prevents tooth decay thanks to the fluorides secreted by glass ionomers and is compatible with the tooth.
Glass carbomers: It is a kind of tooth filler which contains nano particles and makes the tooth self-repairing. It is not advantageous in color compared to other fillers.
Porcelain filling: It is the filling that is used in the retouches made at the ends of the teeth. These fillings may be made of gold, composite, or ceramic materials. The duration of use varies according to the oral care and the material used by the person. In this method, the aim is to repair the tooth. Completed under laboratory conditions at one time.
