Types of dental fillings in dentistry. Temporary, permanent, types of dental fillings

Brief information about fillings

Fillings can be different in purpose and composition. Let's consider the division of fillings by the first feature.

Temporary fillings

The purpose of temporary fillings is to prevent food debris and microbes from getting into the prepared cavity of the tooth for a certain period. Most often, they are installed as a precaution or to preserve the medicine in case of obvious or possible damage to the dental nerve. After a few days, the temporary filling is removed and replaced with a permanent one.

Permanent fillings

Permanent fillings are installed by a dentist for a long period.

They should protect the tooth from decay for several years, or even decades.

If the filling falls out on its own after a month or two, the filling procedure was performed poorly, using poor quality material.

There is also a classification of permanent fillings by the type of material used.

Metal fillings

Metal fillings are made from various alloys of metals and mercury, called amalgam. Previously, they were very popular due to their service life of up to 30 years. However, recently they have been criticized due to the mercury content, which is harmful to health. There are three main disadvantages of such a filling material: chipping of the tooth wall adjacent to the filling due to the property of strong expansion of amalgam, hardening within 2-3 hours, and lack of aesthetic appearance due to metallic shine.

Cement fillings

The main cements from which fillings are made are phosphate or glass ionomer.

People of Soviet times remember fillings made of phosphate cements. They were poorly fixed in the cavity of the tooth, having poor "marginal adhesion". And this meant that the filling could either suddenly fall out or be torn away from the edge of the tooth, forming a gap in which food debris got stuck and caused caries along the edge of the filling. To reduce these disadvantages, silver powder or other fillers were added to the filling.

Glass ionomer cements at one time became a new and significant discovery in the technology of dental filling. They have a chemical composition similar to dental tissue, and the components included in the composition have the property of releasing fluoride ions and preventing secondary caries. Glass ionomer filling has good adhesion to dental tissue, but the disadvantages include increased abrasion and fragility. Due to the low cost, this method remains in demand among patients of dental clinics. The filling hardens under the influence of ultraviolet light.

Composites and plastics

Composites and plastics belong to a group of filling materials that have different chemical variations. The difference between them is mainly in the content of the filler in the former (most often porcelain is used). Composites, in turn, can also be divided into acrylic-containing, epoxy and light-curing.

Acrylic-containing - are characterized by high strength and resistance to abrasion, but have high toxicity and porosity, which can lead to pulpitis or secondary caries and caries of adjacent teeth.

Composites based on epoxy resins are less abrasive, but fragile, have a reduced level of toxicity. However, after several years, a filling made of such material darkens.

Light-curing composites (light-curing composites, "light fillings") harden and acquire their final shape under the influence of a lamp with UV light.

The color range of light fillings is so wide that the dentist who puts such a filling on a patient may not be able to distinguish it from the natural part of the tooth after some time.

In the modern world of dentistry, a chic alternative to the restoration of a carious tooth with a filling called an inlay has appeared.

An inlay is a modern microprosthesis for restoring the crown of a tooth, fixed with composites.

By type of material, plastic, composite, all-ceramic inlays are distinguished.

By type of manufacture, inlays are of two types:

• modeled directly in the oral cavity;
• made on an artificial model of the prepared tooth;

Inlays have several advantages over fillings:

• high precision of shapes;
• improved contact point between adjacent teeth;
• increased strength and resistance to abrasion;
• ideal imitation of the color and shape of the restored tooth, when it comes to all-ceramic inlays;
• no need to install an artificial crown on a depulped tooth when using an OnLay inlay;
• no tooth sensitivity when the inlay shrinks.

Each patient of a general dentist should know that filling materials should be selected individually, taking into account the color and transparency tooth, volume of restoration of the crown part, financial possibilities.