Fillings

Tooth fillings and inlays are used if the tooth’s integrity can be restored by them. Restorative dentistry is a field of dentistry when the tooth’s integrity and damages caused by tooth decay are restored with filling or inlay.

What is a tooth filling?

When a tooth filling is done first the tooth material affected by the caries is removed then the missing part of the tooth is replaced with a restorative material that hardens inside the tooth. With the contemporary filling materials the original shape and shade of the teeth can be perfectly restored.

In case of larger cavities inlays might be used instead of tooth filling. The difference is that in case of a filling, the restorative material hardens inside the tooth, in case of an inlay or onlay, the filling piece that perfectly fits in the cavity is made in a dental laboratory and then fixed with a special dental cement.

What is the material of the tooth filling?

Due to the technical development of the last decades today’s fillings are made of composite materials – a mixture of porcelain and synthetic resin. The benefits of composite materials include being durable, hard wearing, permanent in size and being almost as hard as the tooth enamel. The composite filling material has very high aesthetic values. It is produced in several shades so the tooth filling can be totally similar in shade to the own teeth. There are two types of composite fillings: light curable and two component fillings.

What shall I do with my existing amalgam fillings?

Amalgam is not used as tooth filling anymore though there are existing amalgam fillings in a huge number. The decline in using amalgam filling was due to its mercury content. Though scientific researches show no evidence, critics claim that mercury – whose toxicity is well-known – is released in small quantities from amalgam fillings resulting in poisoning of the body.

Apart from these, for aesthetical reasons and if the filling doesn’t fit well at the edges anymore, full replacement of the amalgam filling to composite filling or inlay is possible.

How is a tooth filling treatment done?

In local anesthesia, the tooth material affected by the caries is removed with a drill, then the cavity is cleaned. The filling is made in layers compressed individually, in order to enable the filling to be free of air pockets and have a firm adhesion to the tooth. After the filling material is hardened the dentist removes the excess material ensuring the filling not to be high. The final step is polishing to provide an even appearance and to prevent the plaque to stick on the smooth surface.
What is the sealing of the molars?

Molars have tiny grooves on the biting surface that can sometimes be deep enough to facilitate tooth decay. Tooth sealing is a procedure when these grooves are filled with special sealant material making the surfaces smooth so that they can effectively resist to the impacts cause tooth decay. Before applying the sealants the grooves are cleaned and the surface is slightly roughened with acids to help the good adhesion of the sealant. It’s recommended to have the teeth sealed in childhood, quickly after their are erupted to lower the risk of tooth decay.
In case of a slight decay the sealing can be done in adulthood as well.

AESTHETICAL FILLINGS, INLAYS

The high aesthetical demands we expect from crowns and veneers applies to tooth fillings as well.

In VitalCenter we use only aesthetical fillings in shades matching to the colour of your natural teeth so your teeth will get back their healthy whiteness again.

Advantages of aesthetical fillings:

• shade matching perfectly to the natural teeth
• aesthetical and durable solution
• can be used in case of both front teeth and molars
• it is made of UV light-cured composite material (mixture of ceramics and synthetic resin)
• you can eat immediately after the completion, no need to wait for hours
• contrary to the amalgam fillings it doesn’t contain toxic compounds

Aesthetical fillings can be used in case of cavities of small to medium size if the remaining part of the tooth is sufficient.
Inlay

If the tooth decay reaches over a certain limit and there is no sufficient amount of healthy tooth material, an inlay is used.

What is an inlay?

The inlay is a special filling that is pre-made in a dental laboratory and fixed in the tooth with a special dental cement. It is made using an impression taken of the patient’s tooth so it fits into the tooth with high accuracy and suitable to fill cavities of larger size as well.

Inlays can be made of several materials, even gold, which can be a lifetime solution. But there is no doubt that the most aesthetical result can be achieved with porcelain or composite materials in colours perfectly matching to the tooth.

ROOT CANAL TREATMENT

In what cases is root canal treatment used?

Root canal treatment is used in case of inflammation developing in the dental pulp. Dental pulp is a type of connective tissue that contains blood vessels and nerves. The reason of its inflammation is most commonly an extensive tooth decay that reaches the pulp and enables bacteria to spread in.

In rare cases the inflammation develops in a non living tooth in which the blood supply is terminated and the immune system cannot prevent spreading of the bacteria. A few decades ago in these cases the only solution was tooth extraction. Today’s dentistry however provides professional root canal treatment techniques to save these teeth.

What are the symptoms of pulp inflammation?

Sudden and sharp pain when eating sweet, sour, cold, hot or when biting can all be the initial symptoms of pulp inflammation. At an advanced phase the gum or face can get swollen, increasing throbbing pain and pressure can occur especially at night, and might become permanent.

Is the treatment painful?

Most root canal treatments are carried out in local anesthesia. Even the injection is painless as anasthetic gel is applied before. So just like all the other treatments in our clinic, root canal treatments are fully pain free.

How is the treatment carried out?

To establish a proper diagnosis and specifying the treatment steps, first a panoramic x-ray picture is taken. Then cleaning of the affected tooth area is completed, and the dental pulp is removed from the root canals with special tools. The diameter of the root canals are to be increased to enable proper quality and durable root filling.

The tooth is disinfected several times during the procedure, and if it is necessary, disinfectant antibiotic treatment is maintained for a several days or for weeks with temporary filling in the tooth. After eliminating the imflammation the final filling is completed. In most cases a root canal treatment requires more than one visit, only front teeth can be root canal treated in a single visit.

Depending on the tooth condition the restoration can be done several ways. If the tooth material is sufficient filling or inlay is done. In some cases a crown is fitted as the tooth material might become brittle and darker in colour after root canal treatment. Overfilling of the root canals can lead to further inflammation so it is crucial to have the root canal treatment done by a highly skilled and experienced professional.

What can you do to ensure the longevity of your tooth with root canal treatment?

You might normally feel pain for a couple of days after the root canal treatment. In most cases the pain will fully stop after a couple of days. If the pain still persists after a week it is worth to take a visit at your dentist’s. If you take proper care of your tooth with root canal treatment they might hold on lifelong. It’s recommended to have a check-up in every half a year as these teeth can also be the subject of tooth decay. Root canal treated teeth do not have pulp which means they are not alive. Therefore they can be brittler than living teeth and might worth to consider to have a crown fitted on them.

Is it possible to have teeth with root canal treatment bleached?

It’s more effective to whiten living teeth but teeth with root canal treatment can be whitened as well. In this case the filling is removed from the tooth and the whitening material is applied not only outside but also inside.

How can you prevent your teeth from root canal treatment?

Proper oral hygiene and regular dental check up cannot be overemphasized as treating a small cavity is incomparably easier than a more extensive one. Don’t wait until the decay develop to the extent it can only be solved with a root canal treatment!