DENTAL FILLINGS

The Tooth Filling Process

The filling is used to fill holes (cavities), usually as a result of decay or tooth wear, and to restore the broken or missing parts of the tooth, in which a sufficient number of teeth remains.

There are many types of fillers, each of which is suitable for different cavities.

Most people are given a local anesthesia injection to completely numb the area while the filling is being performed. It may take several hours for the numbness to pass.

The decayed and weakened parts of the tooth are removed and the hole is washed. To protect the tiny nerves and blood vessels inside the tooth, very thin substrates such as resin are painted inside the hole before the filling material is placed. The filler begins to harden within the first few minutes, or in some materials, a blue light is used to make it harden within a few seconds.

Temporary fillings can last quite a long time, but, as the name suggests, they are temporary and not very strong.

Types of Fillers

There are many types of fillings, for example: temporary dental fillings, root canal fillings, tooth-colored fillings (white or ceramic fillings), amalgam fillings and mercury fillings.

Tooth-Colored Fillings

Since ceramic fillings can be selected according to tooth color, they are a natural-looking alternative to amalgam fillings. Tooth-colored fillings are often used for teeth that appear during smiling and speaking. There are several different types of tooth-colored filling materials. The most common are the so-called composite and glass ionomer. They are soft and can be molded to resemble the shape of a tooth before being hardened, usually using blue light. Because tooth-colored filling materials adhere to the tooth, they can be used to fill the edges of worn teeth. The composite shrinks very slightly under blue light. This can pull the tooth and cause sensitivity. In addition, it can create a small gap between the filling and the tooth, which can lead to further Decaying.