What is Aesthetic Tooth Filling?
Aesthetic tooth filling is the name given to the fillings made on the visible surfaces of the teeth that appear on the smile line when we smile. Aesthetic fillings are made to close the gaps between the teeth, to extend the length of the short teeth, to correct the shape of the deformed teeth, as well as to the decayed teeth.
Who is aesthetic filling applied to?
In cases where there is caries in the tooth or teeth in the anterior region, aesthetic fillings can be made, as well as for purely aesthetic purposes.
Some situations that require aesthetic filling are as follows;
– teeth with gaps in the anterior region
– teeth with fractures, cracks or abrasions in the anterior region due to trauma, clenching or brushing too hard,
– congenitally genetically distorted teeth
– teeth with stains in the enamel layer that can not be removed by tartar cleaning.
What material is the aesthetic filling made of?
The aesthetic filling material is made of a material called composite, which is also applied in the back area. However, unlike composites applied in the posterior region, aesthetic fillings have a chameleon effect that imitates the color of the tooth. Again, this filling material has a much higher level of light transmittance and polishability than the fillings applied in the back area. In this way, since the color and the light transmittance of aesthetic fillings are very similar to natural teeth, they are not noticed when smiling or talking, and people can continue their daily lives easily.
How is aesthetic filling done?
If the aesthetic filling is performed due to caries, first the tooth or teeth are anesthetized with local anesthesia. Then the decayed part is removed from the tooth and the aesthetic filling is placed on the tooth and hardened with blue light. If filling is done only for aesthetic reasons, not because of caries, the tooth does not need to be anesthetized. The surface to be filled is roughened with the help of a bur in a way that will not damage the tooth, and the filling is made more conservatively. This etching process is carried out in such a small amount that it cannot be noticed with the naked eye. Some fillings are made by layering method with composites with different properties to imitate enamel and dentin tissue.
What should those who have aesthetic fillings pay attention to?
If the aesthetic filling was performed with local anesthesia, it is not recommended to eat or drink hot drinks before the effect of anesthesia has passed. Because while the anesthetic effect continues, food or hot drinks can burn the numb tissues, and the tongue or cheeks or lips can be bitten without realizing it. Although the duration of anesthesia differs from person to person, its effect lasts between 3 and 5 hours.
If fillings are performed without using local anesthesia, the person can start eating and drinking immediately. Because these fillings do not undergo any deformation since the hardening processes are completed with blue light (what we call laser among the people) during the process. However, trauma to the tooth, severe clenching teeth, crusty and hard foods can damage healthy teeth as well as fillings. For this reason, we need to pay the same level of care to both the filled teeth and the healthy, untreated teeth.
How long is the life of the aesthetic filling?
Aesthetic fillings can be used for many years if oral hygiene is taken care of and no trauma occurs to the tooth. These fillings usually do not fall out completely unless there is an extremely high trauma or there is very poor oral hygiene. Sometimes, small pieces of fracture may occur at the ends, but these parts can also be repaired in a very short time.
Do aesthetic fillings change color?
There are a wide variety of brands used in aesthetic fillings. The fillings used today, produced with very high quality and good technologies, have prevented discoloration at maximum levels. However, excessive consumption of tea, coffee, coloring foods, and excessive smoking may rarely cause color change in fillings over the years.
