ALL ABOUT THE DIFFERENT MATERIALS
Fillings with glass ionomer cement, composite resin or amalgam
Don’t neglect your old fillings!
Fillings averagely last 5 years. Don’t let them cause you pain before you visit your dentist. It may be too late if the damage extends to the tooth pulp or roots.
Decay and tooth fractures are usually the reasons behind fillings. Decay is the teeth disease caused by germs in the oral cavity that gradually destroy the structure of the teeth. The early detection of the damage is important because automatically results in a smaller filling with a longer lifespan. In many cases old filings need to be replaced due to recurrent caries around restoration margins. Smiles Dental Clinic is equipped with a laser device, which digitally detects decay intraorally and a magnifying camera for detecting initial dentin caries earlier.
Fillings can be white in color - from glass ionomer cement and composite resin - or black when made from amalgam. Black fillings can always be replaced with white aesthetic ones. There are two kinds of white materials that are used for fillings, composite resins and glass ionomer cements. Glass ionomer cement, on one hand is a value for money choice and on the other hand is usually used for primary teeth fillings, due to their limited duration. Composite resin is a polymer material, commonly used for restorations, attaching the dental tissues of the tooth. White fillings are very practical for the chewing process and the overall function of the dentoalveolar system, but they also level up your smile! Having a huge range of shades to choose from, composite resin is aiming for the best aesthetic performance. In the contrary, amalgam, used for black fillings, is a mixture of metals, held together in the remaining dental structure with a specific technique. When the fillings are larger, amalgam can’t protect the remaining dental structure, often resulting in fractures. On the other hand, in some cases, amalgam fillings have a better prognosis. A combination of white and black filling is the newest technique! Firstly, amalgam is placed at the most sensitive part of the damaged tooth. Then, it is covered with composite resin for a more aesthetic result. This is called a combined composite-amalgam restoration.
Fillings can be completed in just one visit while sometimes the tooth damage is superficial and anesthesia is not required. The procedure starts with the removal of the damaged dentin and the cavity is cleaned and shaped. Polishing and function check are the last steps.
