Filling cavities in Moscow

If the dentist asks the patient: “What kind of filling are we going to put in?” - then the patient will find himself in a difficult situation, because usually he has a very poor idea of not only the composition of a dental filling, but also the differences between different types of fillings. To have an idea of how caries is treated and what results to expect from it in the future, it will be useful to learn about the different types and compositions of filling materials.

Metal fillings

Filling teeth with amalgam

Amalgam is a medical metal containing tin, zinc, mercury and silver. Most often, this filling is placed on the distant chewing teeth. Modern dentists use copper and silver amalgams, where these metals predominate.

The advantages of amalgam-based fillings are as follows:

Long service life, which can reach 15 years or more;
Strength;
Low price;
Plastic;
The possibility of preserving tooth color appears if fillings from the latest generations of amalgam are used;
Easy to install;
Tight edge seal.

Disadvantages of using amalgam for filling teeth:

Gold alloy for filling teeth

Fillings made from metals, including their precious analogues, are not popular in modern dentistry, as they are too noticeable on the teeth. While most patients strive for maximum naturalness and naturalness. However, those who decide to install such a filling should know about its advantages and disadvantages.

Advantages of gold alloy fillings:

Long service life;
Increased strength.

Disadvantages of gold alloy fillings:

High price for a filling;
Impossibility of installation with amalgam fillings.

Metals and alloys

For many years, gold was used for dental prosthetics. It is still used today, but rather for filling, and even then only in isolated cases. The main advantage of gold is its chemical inertness and resistance to oxidation processes. At a time when the only alternative was the so-called amalgam, that is, an alloy of mercury with copper, tin or silver, the yellow metal was highly valued by dentists, but today there are other materials.

However, a properly placed gold filling can last in place for 20 years, or even more. As for amalgam, today its use has become rare. Mercury is toxic, and its alloys react too intensely to temperature changes.

Non-metallic fillings

Cements for filling teeth

Cements are widely used for the manufacture of a wide variety of fillings. They are included in permanent fillings in adults, these materials are used to fill baby teeth in children, and cements are used to make insulating linings.

Phosphate cements cannot act as an independent material for making fillings, since they tend to decrease in volume after installation. Therefore, to prevent gaps from appearing between the tooth and the filling, and to avoid a loose fit of the filling, zinc phosphate cements are used only as a spacer when installing other fillings, and they are also used to fix crowns.
Silicate cement is used to fill a tooth after a layer of phosphate cement has been installed on the pulp. The fact is that silicate material is not able to independently provide the necessary permeability, and it can have a pathogenic effect on the pulp. In addition, this cement will dissolve under the influence of saliva and has toxic properties, which is why modern dental clinics do not use silicate cement.
Combined silicate-phosphate cement has absorbed all the best qualities of the two previous cements. It does not stick to the walls of the dental cavity, while it is as hard as silicate cement and has the necessary transparency. Another advantage of this cement filling is that it does not conduct heat. The disadvantages of fillings made from silico-phosphate cements are: not very high aesthetic qualities, low strength and poor resistance to the environment in the oral cavity, as well as toxicity to the pulp, and therefore it is necessary to use an insulating lining. It is these fillings that are most often installed in free dental offices, as they are low in cost.
Glass ionomer cement is another modern cement that is characterized by increased strength and durability. This cement adheres well to the tooth and is not toxic. In addition, in the process of wearing such a filling, fluoride is released from it, which contributes to additional protection of the tooth from carious destruction. However, this modern material also has disadvantages. It is fragile and, like all other cements, has increased abrasion. In this regard, glass ionomer cement is used as insulating linings and for securing dental inlays.

Plastic fillings

In dentistry, plastic is used as a material for making temporary fillings.

Their advantages:

High hardening speed;
Resistance to chemical agents;
No oral irritation.

There are many more disadvantages of plastic fillings than positive qualities:

Reducing the volume of the filling during operation;
Subsidence of the filling;
Quick change of original color;
Tooth destruction as a result of deformation of the filling.

Plastic fillings include acrylic oxide and carbondent.

Acrylic plastics are produced by a domestic manufacturer and have the following advantages:

High adhesion (adhesion to tooth tissue);
Tight fit to the walls of the cavity, negligible shrinkage;
Easy to dispense powder and liquid;
Resistance to external irritants;
Long-term preservation of the original color.

However, despite the strength of acrylic oxide, it is chemically toxic and will eventually lead to the development of an inflammatory reaction under the filling.

Compared to acrylic oxide, carbondent is denser, less toxic, but very fragile and quickly darkens.

Ceramic fillings

Ceramic fillings have a number of advantages, including:

Increased hardness;
Resistance to original color;
Maintaining the original size, no shrinkage;
Excellent aesthetic qualities.

Ceramic fillings are made as an inlay, that is, according to a pre-made impression of a treated tooth. The configuration of the ceramic filling makes it possible to evenly distribute the load throughout the entire tooth during the process of chewing food. There are several types of ceramic fillings: from pressed ceramics, from metal ceramics, with zirconium oxide included in their composition. One and perhaps the most significant disadvantage of a ceramic inlay is its high cost compared to fillings made of other materials.

Light-curing composite fillings

Light-curing fillings are those that harden as a result of exposure to light of a certain frequency. They are as close as possible to the appearance of a person’s own teeth, almost invisible after their installation, durable and initially look perfect. The advantage of these materials is that they are highly polishable, and their high aesthetic qualities make it possible to use these fillings for the treatment of anterior teeth. However, over time, such fillings need to be replaced, as they will still shrink.

Plastics and composites

An extensive group that includes:

Acrylic-containing plastics. They are resistant to abrasion, but at the same time porous and quite toxic, so they have been used less and less in recent years.
Composites with epoxy resins (chemically cured). Slightly better than plastic, but quite fragile and darken a few years after installation.
Light-curing composites (photopolymers). Strong, reliable and durable. They polymerize and harden under the influence of ultraviolet radiation. The composition of a photopolymer tooth filling includes porcelain, which gives the material strength and aesthetics. The most popular option today.

Materials for filling root canals of teeth

Root canals are filled when caries reaches the stage of pulpitis. The essence of filling is to fill the tooth canal as tightly as possible with the selected material. Modern dentistry makes this process painless and quick.

The following materials are used for this:

Gutta-percha is the result of processing a material such as latex. When heated, gutta-percha becomes viscous, and after cooling it hardens. This material has high biological compatibility with dental tissues, has low toxicity, does not dissolve, and does not cause allergic reactions. If such a need arises, gutta-percha can be removed from the dental canal. The disadvantages of the material include the lack of bactericidal properties, the inability of the material to adhere to dentin, and the difficulty of installation.
Silver pins are used less and less in modern dentistry, as it has been found that they tend to oxidize and provoke a relapse of inflammation.
Titanium pins do not provoke allergic reactions, are very durable, light in weight and do not corrode. However, they can only be used if the tooth is slightly damaged and there is no nerve in the canal.
Natural pastes (sealers) contain various antiseptic and antibacterial components that prevent the development of inflammation, they do not cause difficulties in installation and dissolve over a long time. The disadvantages of sealers include the likelihood of developing an allergic reaction and the presence of toxic components. In addition, upon contact with the mucous membrane, they can cause throbbing pain.
Polymer pastes (sealers) are used more often than natural ones, since they do not stain the tooth, do not dissolve in liquids, and have good attachment to the canal walls. However, they can provoke an allergic reaction, especially for patients prone to such manifestations.
Cortismol is a powder that helps eliminate pain after it is introduced into the root canal of a tooth, as it contains hormones. However, it cannot be used to fill the front teeth, as it contains coloring pigments.
Kanason Combipak acts as an antiseptic and antibacterial agent for filling. It isolates the channel perfectly, but the main disadvantage of using it is the long installation time.
Glass ionomer cement is not suitable for filling dental canals, as it has low strength and allows fluid to pass through. Therefore, it is often used for filling baby teeth.
Polymethylsiloxane has an excellent ability to fill even the smallest cavities, as it consists of tiny particles. Its main disadvantage is the novelty of the material and insufficient knowledge of its effect on the body.
Cements are used to fill tooth canals only after applying isolation.