Fillings (composite, glass ionomer, amalgam)
Fillings help restore teeth. For example, when your tooth suffers from a traumatic injury or has a cavity, we may recommend a composite filling. These fillings are a mixture of multiple components and can be placed in the tooth to fill any cavities or cracks along the tooth’s surface.
The most common material used for dental fillings is composite resin because of its durability and because it can also be made to match the colour of teeth.
They are suitable for both front and back teeth (in most circumstances).
Composite fillings are also used to help recolor discoloured teeth or add shape back to teeth that are chipped. Because these fillings have a range of colour shades to choose from, they are capable of repairing both back and front teeth.
Composite fillings are often recommended to repair:
- Cracked teeth
- Chipped teeth
- Cavities
- Worn down teeth
- Misshapen teeth
We apply composite fillings in small layers to maximise effectiveness, and then, between each layer, we use a precise UV light to quickly cure the composite. As it cures, the composite is permanently set into place and shaped by the dentist to provide a better fit and feel in your mouth. After the composite filling is finalised with another round of UV light, we clean up the area by polishing the composite to prevent staining and extend its lifetime.
Teeth that are badly weakened by decay or trauma may require more support than basic fillings.
Dental Fillings Vs Dental Bonding
The main difference between fillings and bonding is that fillings are not used for cosmetic purposes. Fillings are used to help fix the structure of the tooth while bonding is used to fix both the structure and aesthetic of the tooth. Simply put, a bonding is a filling that also improves the way your teeth look. So they can be used to :
- Fix decaying teeth
- Fill cracked teeth
- Re-shade discoloured teeth
- Re-shape teeth
- Repair chipped teeth
- Fill gaps between teeth
- Lengthen teeth
Inlays and Onlays
Sometimes a cavity is too big for a filling but too small for a crown. In a case like this, your dentist might recommend an inlay or onlay. These custom restorations fit into your natural tooth structure like puzzle pieces. Your dentist permanently bonds them in place.Inlays and onlays are similar.
While an inlay restores the middle of the biting surface of the tooth, an onlay is used to cover a wider area that includes at least one cusp, the raised areas on the top of the tooth.They can both be coloured to match your tooth for a seamless, consistently bright smile and can be done alternatively with a composite or ceramic material.
Biodentine: direct and indirect pulp capping
Biodentine is a dental material used for various dental procedures, primarily in restorative dentistry. Its unique composition and bioactivity make it an effective dentin substitute that promotes healing and dentin regeneration.
It has a special ability to stimulate the growth of new tooth material, similar to what our teeth are made of naturally. This means it can help our teeth repair and regenerate.
Biodentine has various clinical applications, such as direct and indirect pulp capping.
Both direct and indirect applications are ways of delaying the restorative cycle and prolonging the lifespan of the tooth. In both procedures, the biodentine is placed close to or at the contact of the pulp, followed by a restoration. The choice of filling material depends on the extent of the tooth damage and its location within the mouth.
It’s important to note that direct pulp capping is typically performed in cases where the pulp is minimally exposed or not severely infected. If the pulp is extensively damaged or infected, a root canal treatment may be necessary to address the underlying issue.
Also, it must be pointed out that direct or indirect pulp capping might not be successful, resulting in pulp necrosis. Preserving the pulp’s vitality should be encouraged within the discipline of modern endodontics; it is more conservative, more biologically acceptable, and less technically demanding than pulpectomy, but not always successful.
Overall, dental pulp capping aims to preserve the tooth’s natural structure, promote healing, and prevent the need for more invasive treatments, such as root canal therapy.
