What is dental fillings?
Dental fillings are the restoration of decayed or broken teeth with various materials in order to treat them. In this way, the treated tooth regains its former functions. Tooth fillings should be done as soon as caries is detected. Thus, possible inflammation, pain or tooth loss can be prevented.
To whom is dental filling done?
Dental fillings can be made for people whose teeth are rotten, broken or deformed for various reasons, as well as for aesthetic reasons. Gaps between front teeth can be filled with a process called bonding. In this way, the teeth can gain an aesthetic appearance and provide full function.
How is a dental filling done?
If a tooth filling is to be made due to caries, the tooth is anesthetized with local anesthesia first. Then, the caries and the old filling, if any, are completely removed from the tooth. After selecting suitable materials according to the size of the caries and isolating the tooth from saliva, the filling material is placed on the tooth, the filling material adapted to the adjacent and opposite teeth is hardened. At the last stage, the height of the filling is also checked, the filling material is polished and the process is terminated. Since these procedures are performed under local anesthesia, they are completely painless.
Which materials are used for filling?
Although many different materials have been used as dental filling material from past to present, the most widely used material today is composite fillings. In rare cases, amalgam, glass ionomer or compomer fillings may be preferred. None of these materials are harmful for health.
When the most commonly used composite fillings will be made in the posterior region, more resistant fillings should be chosen against chewing forces. Fillings for aesthetic purposes or to affect aesthetics in the anterior regions are made with materials with a chameleon effect and higher light transmittance.
What should be considered after tooth filling?
If the filling was done with local anesthesia, it is recommended not 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, 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.
Will there be pain after the filling?
Depending on the size of the filling and its proximity to the nerve, it may ache for up to 24 hours. We recommend that you contact your doctor, after 24 hours if there is still a pain especially in the form of a pulse and getting worse.
Does dental caries cause new caries on the other teeth?
It does not directly cause caries in other teeth, but especially in a caries between two teeth, when food accumulation increases, can be cause for the caries in the adjacent tooth.
Can a tooth without pain be filled?
Filling should be done without losing time even if there is no pain in the tooth with caries. In some cases, dental caries can progress rapidly and reach the nerve of the tooth and cause pain and inflammation. In such cases, the tooth can no longer be saved with filling, but with root canal treatment. Therefore, it is the healthiest procedure to have a filling done without waiting for pain or aching.
How long does a dental filling last?
Tooth filling can remain in the mouth for many years if oral hygiene is taken care of and if there is no clenching or abnormal chewing or eating habits. The materials used today connect the filling and the tooth to each other as firmly as possible. If the tooth does not decay later or if the filling does not break for various reasons, the person can use the filling for many years.
Does tooth filling cause bad breath?
A filling made with good edge harmony and quality materials does not cause bad breath but if the decayed tooth is not treated, it can cause bad breath.
