Dental Filling Treatment

It is a speciality that carries out the diagnosis, treatment and follow-up of all diseases or existing aesthetic complaints that are related to dental solid tissues, caused by bacteria or without bacteria. Restorative dentistry operates in the fields of caries science, preventive dentistry and aesthetic or cosmetic dentistry.

What Are Dental Filling Materials?

There are 2 types of filling materials used in dental fillings. These are,

• Amalgam fillings
• Composite fillings

What is Amalgam Filling?

Amalgam fillings are popularly known as gray fillings. Amalgam fillings consist of a special metal alloy. It contains some various metals such as mercury, silver, copper.

What is Composite Filling?

Composite fillings are the fillings known among people as cosmetic fillings, and they are fillings made of materials with a color similar to the color of the teeth.

Why and How Is Tooth Filling Done?

Dental fillings are made to clean teeth from decay, because the presence of these germs increases their number and their advance towards the dental pulp (the nerve), and they can also be transmitted to other teeth. Therefore, the caries must be cleaned until healthy dental tissue is reached. Dental fillings are briefly performed as follows:

• The tooth and surrounding gums are numbed with local anesthesia

• Cleaning the tooth from decay

• Examination and cleaning of dental nerves

• After conducting appropriate examinations, the hollow part of the tooth is filled with composite or amalgam. In this way, the restorative treatment is completed.

Which one Should be Preferred: Amalgam Filling or Composite Filling?

The answer to this question depends on the patient. Because although the type of filling that will be suitable for your tooth will be stated by the doctor, the choice is up to the patient. Both filling types have their own advantages and disadvantages. Your doctor will inform you about these issues and will tell you the most appropriate type of filling according to your lifestyle, usage style and health condition of your teeth.

To briefly explain, the advantages and disadvantages of amalgam and composite fillings are as follows:

• Amalgam fillings are low-cost fillings. These are solid as they are metal alloys.
• Composite fillings are slightly more costly than amalgam fillings, however, composite fillings look more aesthetic since they are tooth-colored.
• The disadvantage of amalgam filling is that it does not protect the teeth for life and can cause tooth sensitivity over time.
• Composite fillings protect the tooth from cold and hot temperatures, do not cause sensitivity, and support the remaining dental tissue.
• Disadvantage of composite fillings is that they are more costly than amalgam fillings.
• Composite fillings are applied in layers, and a special placement and fixation process is applied after each layer. In this way, decayed parts of the tooth are supported from the inside out, and the teeth are strengthened against cracks and breaks.

Do Dental Fillings Worn Out Over Time?

Dental fillings may wear down to some extent over many years due to the chewing process. Sometimes, small parts may fall out, and in such cases the solution is to consult a doctor. After the examination, worn out fillings can be restored or the filling material can be renewed. This renewal process is done by removing the old filling and replacing it with a new filling.

Is There an Age Limit for Tooth Filling?

There is no age limit for tooth filling. Caries is a dental problem that can also be experienced in children. The solution to this problem does not consist of stages with very serious risks. Therefore, there is no age limit for tooth filling.

Is Tooth Filling Suitable for Pregnant Women?

Dental filling can also be applied to pregnant women. However, some precautions are taken. The primary precaution is the pregnancy calendar of the expectant mother. In other words, the filling process can be performed at a certain time interval during the pregnancy. This interval is the first 4th and 7th months of pregnancy. Because the baby’s vital organs begin to form in the first 3 months. From the seventh month onwards, the belly of the pregnant woman grows and the interventions cannot be carried out easily. For this reason, tooth filling can be done when the gynecologist of the expectant mother deems it appropriate.

Why Do Teeth Decay During Pregnancy?

When women become pregnant, the body enters into an unaccustomed tempo, and works to create and develop another living from its own body. While doing this, it uses its own vitamins, proteins, minerals and cells . For this reason, if the mother’s dental health is not very good, the teeth will rot because the elements that are divided during pregnancy and are important for dental health are insufficient for the mother. For this reason, as well as paying attention to nutrition for the health and development of the baby during pregnancy, the expectant mother should also be fed for her own health and teeth. For this, a correct nutrition program and certain vitamin supplements can be used.