Dental Fillings

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.

Types of Dental Fillings

  • There are two basic types of dental fillings:
  • Traditional Amalgam Fillings
  • Composite Resin Tooth-Colored Fillings
  • Inlays/Onlays

Our clinics uses the 3M ESPE Filtek for composite resin fillings. The 3M ESPE utilises developments in nanotechnology enabling high-quality restorations as well as excellent mechanical properties and strength. BIDC an amalgam-free dental center and uses composite resin for its dental fillings..

Today, amalgam filings are commonly replaced with tooth-colored fillings. Safe removal of amalgam fillings following certain guidelines set forth by IAOMT is done at BIDC.

Benefits of 3M ESPE Filtek

  1. Nanosized filler particles create a brilliant polish and retention
  2. Gives excellent strength, durability and wear resistance for even the toughest posterior restorations
  3. Can be used for simple to complex restorations involving layering and combining two and opacities
  4. Low polymerization shrinkage for less stress on the tooth and less sensitivity potential for patients
  5. Fluorescence contributes to a more natural looking restoration
  6. Unique nanocomposite-based restorative combines strength and high-quality esthetics

Source of information adapted from 3M ESPE website.

Procedure for Composite Resin Dental Fillings Treatment

The course of treatment described here is one of several options available at our dental clinic. Consult your dentist to find out what the best solution is for you, given your specific condition.

1.First evaluation and fillings tooth preparation

  • decay in tooth is removed and clean cavity of bacteria and debris
  • prepare space for the filling

2.Application of dental fillings

  • tooth-colored material is placed in layers
  • a special light that "cures" or hardens each layer is applied
  • shape composite material to the desired result, trim off any excess material
  • polish final restoration

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.

Care for Dental Fillings

To maintain your fillings, you should follow good oral hygiene practices:

  1. Brush at least twice a day. It is good practice to brush after eating and before bedtime.
  2. Floss at least once to twice a day.
  3. Rinse with fluoride rinse before bed. Swish the fluoride rinse vigorously in your mouth for at least one minute. Do not swallow any of the rinse and do not eat or drink anything for 30 minutes
  4. See your dentist for regular professional check-ups and cleanings. If your dentist suspects that a filling might be cracked or is "leaking", further assessment of the situation should be done
  5. If your tooth is extremely sensitive, if you feel a sharp edge, if you notice a crack in the filling, or if a piece of the filling is missing, call your dentist

Amalgam Fillings versus Composite Resin Fillings

Traditional Amalgam Fillings 
Most of us have had amalgam fillings (silver) or gold filling restorations. Amalgam fillings are sometimes called mercury fillings as some amalgam fillings contained minute amounts of mercury.

Advantages

  1. Durability – lasts at least 10 to 15 years or more
  2. Strength – can withstand chewing forces 
  3. Expense – is less expensive than composite fillings

Disadvantages

  1. Poor aesthetics – does not match the color of your natural teeth 
  2. Destruction of more tooth structure – healthy parts of the tooth may need to be removed to make a space large enough to hold the amalgam filling 
  3. Discoloration – amalgam fillings can create a grayish hue to the surrounding tooth structure and tend to blacken over time 
  4. Rare Allergic reactions – a small percentage of people, approximately 1%, are allergic to the mercury present in amalgam restorations 
Composite Resin Fillings
Composite resin dental fillings or white fillings are tooth fillings colored to look like a natural tooth.
 

Advantages

  1. Aesthetics – shade/color can be matched to existing teethม well suited for front teeth use
  2. Versatility in uses – in addition to use as a filling material for decay, composite fillings can also be used to repair chipped, broken or worn teeth
  3. Tooth-sparing preparation – less tooth structure or drilling is involved than with amalgam fillings 
  4. Stonger tooth - composite fillings can bond directly to the tooth, making the tooth stronger than it would be with an amalgam filling

Disadvantages

  1. Durability – may not last as long as amalgams on average for large fillings
  2. Increased treatment time – because of the process to apply the composite material
  3. Chipping – depending on location, composite materials can chip off the tooth
  4. Expense – composite fillings can cost up to twice the cost of amalgams 

 

Photo taken from http://solutions.3m.com Dr. Grant Chyz.using 3M Filtek™ Supreme