| Tooth Colored Dental Fillings |
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If part of a tooth has been lost through decay or damaged due to an accident, your dentist may put in a dental filling. Dental fillings are used to fill a portion of tooth or plug the hole and stop any future pain or discomfort.
There are two basic types of dental fillings:
- Traditional Amalgam Fillings
- Composite Resin Tooth-Colored Fillings -- Tooth-colored fillings are a safer and more attractive alternative to older silver amalgam fillings. By precisely matching tooth-colored composite fillings with the natural color of your teeth, a skilled cosmetic dentist is able to provide you with white fillings that are virtually invisible. The removal of amalgam fillings can provide patients with white fillings that provide a more pleasing, silver-free smile.
Procedure for Composite Resin Dental Fillings Treatment:
- First evaluation and fillings tooth preparation
o Decay in tooth is removed and clean cavity of bacteria and debris
o Prepare space for the filling
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Application of dental fillings
o Tooth-colored material is placed in layers
o A special light that "cures" or hardens each layer is applied
o Shape composite material to the desired result, trim off any excess material
o Polish final restoration
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Recovery Expectations:
Having dental fillings and fillings replacement done is a quick and relatively
simple process. There should be little or no sensitivity in teeth.
Dental fillings treatment can usually be completed within one visit if warranted.
If however, there are a large number of fillings, the visits may be separated for
better patient comfort.
ADVANTAGES:
- The composite filling material contains acrylic and glass particles, no mercury.
- The tooth-colored filling material looks very nice and natural.
- This type of filling material is already hard when you leave the dental office,
therefore, you can chew on it whenever you like.
- Less tooth structure is lost because the dentist can make a smaller preparation.
- Composite fillings provide good durability and resistance to fracture in
small-to-mid size restorations that need to withstand moderate chewing pressure.
- Composite resin can improve the appearance of teeth that are chipped, broken,
cracked, stained, or have spaces between them.
Side Effects Associated with Silver Amalgam Fillings:
Silver amalgam fillings contain about 50 percent mercury, a chemical that has been scientifically shown to be more toxic than lead, cadmium, or arsenic. The possibility of mercury leaking from amalgam fillings over time has prompted a movement toward mercury-free dentistry. The mercury in silver amalgam fillings is thought to leave the filling and enter the organs of the body in small amounts throughout life. Some medical practitioners believe this mercury is causing physical and psychological problems in patients. These include neurodegenerative diseases, birth defects, and mental disorders. The debate is ongoing but many patients are opting to remove their amalgam fillings in order to improve their appearance and ease their minds. |
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The chewing surfaces of teeth are never flat. They have certain depressions called
Pit and Fissures which serve as potential traps for food and bacteria making the
teeth susceptible for decay. Although other factors such as dietary habits,
oral hygiene and amount of sugar intake do play an important role but the
pits and fissures have been suggested as "the single most important anatomic
feature leading to the development of tooth decay". Therefore as a preventive
measure certain pits and fissure sealants are placed.
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Dental sealants:
A fissure sealant is a plastic, professionally applied material used to occlude
the pit and fissures on the occlusal surface of the posterior teeth. The purpose
is to provide a physical barrier to impaction of substrates for the cariogenic
bacteria in those cervices and hence to prevent caries from developing.
How sealants work:
The decay inhibiting properties of sealants are attributed to the physical
obstruction of the pits and grooves. Sealants prevent penetration of fermentable
sugars and bacteria that produce acid that causes tooth decay. The safety and
effectiveness of pit and fissure sealants as a decay preventive measure has been
confirmed by the American Dental Association.
On the left is an example of a chewing surface before sealant is applied. On the right,
is a chewing surface of a molar after it has been protected by a shaded sealant.
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