The filling is still called this, even though it does not contain lead. This is a dentist’s material to fill the teeth’ cavities when part of the teeth has been removed, for example, due to decay.
A filling is a part of caries treatment. When a patient has cavities, the dentist will be able to assess the damage to the dentition. Its objective will be initially to preserve as much as possible the dental pulp and preserve the vitality of the tooth.
After removing the decay, the dentist will clean the cavity and then perform a protective treatment before installing the amalgam or composite cement. This pose will fill the space created by eliminating decay and restore the shape of the tooth.
He removes the affected tooth tissue with a small portable grinding wheel (called a bur). It cleans the cavity up to the healthy part of the tooth.
Then he closes the cavity with an inert product (“filling”) that does not react with the body: an amalgam or composite resins, for example.
When the decay is intense, it is necessary to devitalize the tooth (remove the pulp in the center). The dentist may have to block the canals of the tooth.;
If he notices an abscess or a deep infection, he will prescribe an antibiotic treatment, after which he can intervene on the tooth. This is because the infection causes inflammation of the tissues, making them difficult to treat without causing bleeding.
Is permanent tooth filling possible?
While no type of filling has been proved to be permanent, some dental filling does last longer than others:- Amalgam (gray filling):This is generally formed from liquid mercury mixed with powdered metals: mercury, silver, copper, tin, zinc. Thus, his mixture must have several properties: tightness and resistance to the effects of time and use (chewing).
- For the Dentist, it should allow easy installation and handling. Today, this type of filling is controversial due to mercury in the components and its possible health consequences. The main advantage was an easy installation and low cost. They usually last from 4 to 10 years.
- Composite cement. It has the advantage of being the same color as the patients’ teeth. If initially, its main advantage was aesthetic, it is finally widely used today because of its preservative properties of the treatments carried out. Their duration is usually between 3 to years because of their brittle nature.
- Onlay or Inlay filling: This depends on whether it is located “on” or “in” the tooth. This technique goes beyond a simple filling since it is a prosthesis made to care for a generally damaged tooth. The overall treatment consists of:
