Every patient at a dental clinic always faces the question of choosing a filling. The same question is relevant for the doctor, with the only difference being that he always knows exactly which one is needed in a given case.

In another article you will find the answer to the question.

What types of fillings are there?

When going to the dentist, you need to have at least the slightest idea about the main types of fillings. Based on their purpose, they can be divided into two categories - temporary and permanent. And in terms of the materials they are made of, there are much more of them. Let's look at some of them.

Silicate and silicophosphate

Old types of cements (Silicin, Silidon). Some dentists use them because they are cheap and easy to use. It is clear that their quality wants to be the best.

Plastic

Such materials are also popular among doctors; the most common are Acrylic Oxide and Carbondent. The low cost is also suitable for some cash-strapped patients. These products are characterized by rapid wear. The material itself shrinks during hardening and changes color over time.

Amalgams

Durable material (silver and mercury), can stand 10 years or more. But it has significant shortcomings. High thermal conductivity and metallic color.

The inclusion of mercury, according to scientists, can negatively affect the microflora of the oral cavity and contribute to the degeneration of some types of bacteria into pathogenic mutants.

Composite

Plastics and quartz powder. It is quartz that gives them their hardness. Therefore, they occupy a leading position in their price category. Service life from 2 to 5 years, durability and preservation of the original appearance for quite a long time contribute to their demand.

Composite light-curing or photopolymer

To install such seals, you must use a halogen lamp. Under the influence of its rays for 30-40 seconds, the material transitions to a solid state. Such a product then lasts for a long time. The color does not change for quite a long period.

But the condition for this is good grinding and polishing, which is necessary every six months. The use of an adhesive promotes ideal adhesion of the filling to the tooth body. Installation of such a seal is carried out guaranteed for 3 years but she stand maybe 5 years or more.

Glass ionomer cements

There are those that harden on their own or under the influence of light. The composition of such materials includes up to 15% fluorine. That's why they are called anti-caries. The chemical bond with the tooth body prevents the formation of microcracks between different tissues. They are especially valuable for the prevention of secondary caries in children.

Due to such disadvantages, combinations with other materials are used, for example, with a composite top layer that hardens under light rays.

What should the filling be like?

There are certain requirements for materials for filling teeth and for hardened fillings.

The first of them are technological:

• the material released for use must consist of no more than two components;
• after preparation, the mixture should become plastic and pliable to the anatomical shape of the cavity;
• the composition after kneading should retain plasticity for a certain time (1.5-2 minutes), and not harden prematurely;
• the transition from plasticity to the solid state should not last long (the norm is 5-7 minutes);
• Humidity should not interfere with curing, which should take place at a temperature not exceeding human body temperature (37 °C).

The following requirements for installed seals are functional:

• give minimal shrinkage during hardening;
• have low solubility and moisture absorption;
• the coefficient of thermal expansion should approach that of dental bone tissue;
• hardness and strength under pressure, shear and friction;
• have low thermal conductivity.

Important requirements for aesthetics:

• matching the color shades of the enamel;
• transparency and structure should resemble dental tissue;
• do not change its color and structure throughout its entire service life or long period.

The high bar for fillings will never be the limit. After all, scientific research in this direction does not stop. And new developments will appear in the near future.

Temporary fillings

The name speaks for itself.

Seals are installed for a short time for a specific purpose:

• isolate the medicinal pad at the bottom of the carious canal or tooth root;
• if several patient visits are necessary to re-administer the drug;
• as gaskets for permanent fillings.

Temporary fillings also have certain standards. They must be plastic and be inserted into the cavity without much difficulty. Do not dissolve in saliva and liquid food, hermetically seal the tooth defect. Maintain the required period, at least 3 days.

Which filling should I choose?

Most doctors agree that on the front teeth The best option is a photopolymer filling. It is invisible, looks as if it never happened. But the same can be said about the back, chewing teeth. They should be beautiful too. The load on them is much greater than on the front ones.

But light-curing composite fillings are super-strong. They can be used to restore a badly damaged tooth without resorting to the use of a crown. They are used to correct unfolded teeth and chips. Polymers are also good for closing gaps between teeth.

Paid and free fillings

Silicate and plastic fillings were used back in Soviet times, when medicine was free for people. All expenses were paid by the state. They are still used in dental offices to treat those categories of citizens who, for some reason, need it.

The materials used are those included in the list of drugs in the program of state guarantees of free medical care. As a rule, each clinic displays a list of such services on stands. Patients who can pay for their treatment are choosing more modern and high-quality materials to fill their teeth.

They come in two types: temporary and permanent. Temporary fillings are used to enable the doctor to determine the tightness of the teeth in case of infection of the canals, or to put medicine for a short time to later replace such a filling with a permanent one.

Permanent fillings are used so that a person can continue to use the treated tooth. It hermetically seals the cavity in it for several years, protecting it from the penetration of food and infections.

Classification of permanent fillings

Cement filling

Cement is the most affordable and common raw material option in dental practice. It has:

• good adhesion (stickiness) to the tooth;
• They are quite durable and can last a sufficient amount of time.

But the negative feature of a cement filling is that its density is much higher than the density of tooth enamel. This can lead to tooth decay around the cementum, leading to secondary caries.

What types of cement fillings are there? There are phosphate cements, silicate cements, ercodont cements, and glass ionomer cements.

• Phosphate cements are used to seal canals and placed under crowns. Not used for work on the surface of teeth.
• Silicate cements are similar to the natural color of teeth and are characterized by transparency and a shiny surface. Most often, the front teeth are filled, since the material is quite hard.
• Ercodont cement is suitable for wider types of fillings.
• Glass ionomer cements more durable to abrasion, but have an unaesthetic appearance. They must be placed on teeth that are located inside the mouth, not visible to others. The release of fluorine from such raw materials helps protect them from re-infection.

Amalgam fillings

Consist of a mixture of metals and mercury. Very durable, flexible and excellent adhesion material. Negative properties are the color of the metal and the presence of high thermal conductivity. The difference is in the thermal expansion of teeth and fillings. Because of this, the walls of the tooth can collapse.

Plastic filling

Plastic – A quickly hardening, hard, durable and chemically resistant material. Over time, the raw material sags and decreases in size. This can lead to the development of secondary caries and tooth destruction. Negative features also include the presence of high toxicity when using the material. And the ability to paint is also clearly a negative property for him.

Plastic raw materials for the oral cavity can be acrylic-containing or carbon-dent. Acrylic-containing plastic is strong, but has chemical toxicity. Over time, they can lead to inflammation underneath.

Chemically cured composites

The main component of which is porcelain. It contributes to the hardness and durability of the fixed material.

What kinds of composites are there?

1. Photopolymer composites– a material that requires a halogen lamp to cure. The lamp irradiates the substance for 20-30 seconds to harden. Low-wash, low-shrinkage and color-fast material. To preserve the color and strength of the raw materials, fillings must be polished every 6 months.
2. Acrylic composites– abrasion-resistant and sufficiently break-resistant material. But it is toxic, which can cause nerve inflammation of chemical origin. Quite often it contributes to the development of secondary caries due to the presence of a mass of pores during polymerization.
3. Epoxy resin composites harden fairly quickly. It is best used to fill fairly large cavities, since hardening occurs almost simultaneously over the entire area. Less toxic, resistant to wear. The disadvantage is that such material may not satisfy a person with a good aesthetic appearance. This is due to the fact that the dentist needs to thoroughly mix the substances that make up the filling for 3 minutes until the mixture hardens. Fragility and loss of aesthetic appearance due to darkening over time is also a rather important disadvantage of such material.
4. Light-curing composites– can be established only in case of exposure to ultraviolet irradiation on substances that are in the raw materials. A positive feature is the plasticity of the material. It allows the dentist to more thoroughly restore the dental cavity. Also, the material will not harden until the work is completed, which also helps the doctor treat the teeth more skillfully. The material is not harmful to health and polishes well. A wide range of colors of raw materials allows you to match it to almost any shade of teeth. However, light-curing composites are not suitable for treating hard-to-reach and deep cavities.

Ceramic filling

Ceramics are characterized by high hardness and retention of their dimensions even after a long period of time. Another advantage is that the material retains its color and holds tightly. The fact that it is made in the form of an inlay based on an impression of a treated and disinfected tooth helps the filling to hold tightly. Allows you to evenly distribute the load over it when chewing. It is resistant to temperature changes and does not have a staining effect on teeth.

Compomer filling

Compomer is used to fill small cavities, baby teeth, and to restore teeth that bear little chewing load. The raw materials are durable, protect them from caries and look aesthetically pleasing on them.

It is important to understand that the choice of raw materials depends to a large extent on the type of tooth that is being treated, on the strength of the owner’s teeth, on where exactly it is located (frontal, lateral) and on the desire of the patient.

There are different types of materials in dental practice today. Before choosing the best material from which the filling will be made, you should consult your doctor. He will advise you on what is best to install.

Today, one of the most popular dental operations is filling. Therefore, quite often clients ask questions: what types of dental fillings are better, what are they, and which of them are the most reliable?

The first way fillings differ is their classification according to the materials used in their manufacture. This factor often dictates the required filling technology.

Note: In addition, these products not only help in the treatment of many diseases, they can also serve as a prophylactic agent, enriching all necessary tissues with such a necessary trace element as fluoride.

Let us understand all the necessary information about dental filling material and which ones are best.

What are fillings made of?

In modern dentistry, a fairly diverse range of materials is used (all photos can be found below):

1. Metal may include an amalgam that consists of mercury and metal. The most unpleasant feature of this material is its negative impact on the human body. An additional disadvantage is the possibility of expansion of the material, which can lead to unpleasant consequences. This type of filling is mainly used only when installed on chewing teeth and only in extreme cases. In addition, this material can be used for crowns.
2. Glass ionomer cement is a material that has low cost, as well as properties that will ensure an ideal marginal fit. When manufacturing products, they include additives that nourish tissues with fluoride, which will prevent the disease from re-developing. Such fillings include ceramic ones. Among the disadvantages of this raw material are fragility and low wear resistance.
3. Cement-based structures have proven themselves to be an excellent preventive measure against the secondary development of the disease, however, they have a short service life, as they are quite fragile.
4. Chemically cured composites are used as a replacement for conventional cement structures. They include three varieties: light-curing, with the inclusion of resins, and acrylic-containing. Acrylic material is more durable and resistant to abrasion, although it has an unpleasant feature - excessive toxicity. Such material is quite porous and can cause pulpitis or secondary caries, which can develop not only on the affected organ, but also on the neighboring one. Composites made with the inclusion of epoxy resins wear more slowly, but are very fragile. The toxicity of these fillings is lower, however, after several years they darken.
5. Light-curing materials are also known as photopolymers and are the most common and popular in the country. Such fillings include a polymer and a special filler. This composition hardens when exposed to the rays of a blue lamp. This material has a number of advantages: high strength, excellent aesthetic qualities, ductility. Thanks to the use of this raw material, a specialist can perfectly replicate a natural tooth. The service life of this material can be up to 7 years. The unpleasant aspects of these fillings are shrinkage and adherence at the edges. Therefore, this material is not used for significant defects, or as a replacement for prostheses.
6. Plastic is not used very actively, due to strong shrinkage, abrasion and short-term preservation of the original appearance. However, their low cost and ease of installation have made them popular in free dentistry.

How much do fillings cost?

When talking about price, it is worth noting that it is not constant. Today its changes are observed almost every 6 months. What are they, the prices for the best dental materials? You won’t get an exact figure here, since the price includes not only the cost of a good dental filling, depending on its type, but also other necessary manipulations performed by a specialist during treatment.

So, let’s look at the cost of different types of dental fillings:

• installation of light fillings for teeth, which are considered better than others, will cost 1300-2500 rubles;
• the cement option is much cheaper and will only require 300-700 rubles;
• There is no information about the cost of metal structures, since they have left the dental arena quite a long time ago.
  Using all the information received, you can quickly figure out which fillings are best for teeth. However, it should be understood that in addition to the cost of the design, it is very important to pay attention to the clinic that will provide the necessary service, as well as directly to the specialist.