The dental filling is, with total security, one of the most
performed treatments in any dental clinic. This is because it is necessary to
use it to treat the most common oral disease: cavities.
In fact, most likely, throughout your life, you have had to fill
a tooth or tooth.
Since this treatment is essential for the vast majority of
people, today we are going to address the main issues of interest about dental
fillings.
What is a tooth paste and what is it for?
The filling -also known as a dental filling- is the procedure
that is performed to fill a cavity in its initial phase.
It also consists of removing the caries from the affected dental piece,
cleaning the cavity where it was and filling it with composite.
The main objective of the dental filling is to eliminate
cavities and thus prevent it from spreading.
In this way, the dentist will return the tooth to its original
functionality and prevent decay from advancing and destroying a larger surface
area of the dental piece.
Therefore, the dental filling serves to keep the tooth in the
mouth for much longer and prevents the tooth from ending up being lost if the
decay progresses.
How is a filling made?
How could it be otherwise, before performing a dental filling it
is essential to detect the presence of a cavity.
To do this, the dentist will check the patient's mouth using a
mirror and an exploration probe. In addition, it will be supported by
complementary tests, such as panoramic or periapical radiographs.
Once the dentist has diagnosed the caries, he made the dental
filling.
The steps to follow are those:
Local anesthesia
In order to prevent the patient from feeling any kind of pain
during the process, local anesthesia is applied. With this, the area of the
tooth or tooth where the decay is found will be asleep and numb, fully prepared
to begin the process.
Isolation of the tooth or molar
Before starting to remove the caries, the dentist will isolate
the tooth. This will prevent saliva from reaching the area. This, in addition
to hindering your work, would harm the final result, since the area must remain
dry at all times.
caries cleaning
Using instruments called dental burs, the dentist removes all
the tissue from the tooth affected by decay. Having removed the damaged part of
the tooth, it will be necessary to rebuild the area later.
Filling material placement
Since the cleaning of the caries has produced a "hole"
in the tooth, the dentist must reconstruct the area of the affected tooth
using composite.
In order for the composite to dry and harden properly, which
makes the final result lasting, the dentist places a light lamp on the tooth.
All this process will make the dental piece recover its
functionality and its original aesthetics. In addition, it will be essential
that the dentist use the appropriate shade of composite for the color of the
tooth and that it respects, in turn, its natural shape.
Polishing of dental filling
Once the composite has hardened, the dentist will need to shape
the filling using different polishing burs.
In addition, they will perform a trial bite on the patient to
ensure that the reconstruction is comfortable for them, and that they bite
normally.
How long does it take to make a filling?
Dental filling is a relatively simple treatment, as well as
being very common in daily clinical practice.
This makes duration times short. In fact, the time it usually
takes to make a filling is 50-60 minutes.
Of course, it must be taken into account that this duration is
approximate, since it depends, fundamentally, on the size of the cavity to be
removed.
Does a dental filling hurt?
Due to the simplicity of the treatment, a dental filling does
not usually hurt.
First of all, because before starting the procedure, the dentist
applies anesthesia to the area. Therefore, it is desensitized.
Once the dentist finishes the treatment, the effect of the
anesthesia will subside. However, the fact that the filling is a minimally
invasive procedure means that the patient does not experience pain.
Post-obturation recommendations
As we have already explained, the filling is a very simple
treatment. Therefore, it does not cause great discomfort or require following
important recommendations.
However, we can give you some advice so that you take them into
account once you have received the treatment:
●
Avoid biting your tongue or lip, since for
about 2-3 hours you will have the area numb due to the local anesthesia.
●
Do not eat or drink right after the filling is
done. It is advisable to wait a couple of hours to get the filling to seal
properly and thus avoid future complications.
●
Do not smoke.
●
It is likely that you will feel, in the area
of the filling, sensitivity to cold for a period of time, which can be as
long as a month. In the event that you experience major discomfort, make an
appointment with your dentist to explain what is happening to you.
What types of fillings are there?
Depending on the amount of tooth that must be reconstructed,
dental fillings can be classified into two types.
1- Simple fillings
Simple fillings are those that are performed when the caries is
very small and the reconstruction to be done is minimal.
An example of this type of fillings are those that are made in
the central grooves of a tooth.
2- Composite fillings
Composite fillings are those in which the destruction of the
tooth is greater. And, therefore, the dentist has to remove a larger surface of
the tooth. This means that the reconstruction work must be greater.
These types of fillings are made, for example, when caries
affect the walls of the tooth.
What materials are used in dental fillings?
Today, the most widely used material to make fillings is resin
or composite. However, a few years ago it was much more frequent to resort to
silver amalgams.
The composite filling is much more aesthetic.
1- Resin or composite
The fact that resin or composite is the most used material today
is due to the fact that it imitates the color of the tooth very well.
Therefore, its main advantage is that it is very aesthetic.
However, its main drawback is the duration. Composite fillings last less time
than amalgam fillings.
2- Metallic or amalgam
Metallic fillings or silver amalgams are practically not used
today. However, they were widely used a few years ago.
The main advantage of amalgam fillings is their duration, since
they can last up to 30 years in the patient's mouth,
However, their main drawback is that they are very unsightly:
they are gray in color, like metal. Therefore, they can be appreciated when the
person who has them opens their mouths.