Most people have never heard of tooth decay and fillings. In fact, according to the Council of Dentists in Spain, more than 95% of the Spanish population has at least one cavity.
From BQDC we want to solve some of the most frequent doubts about the treatment of dental caries, to try to raise awareness among the population and spread knowledge about this type of bacterial infection that puts everyone’s oral health at risk.
What causes the need for dental filling?
Dental caries is a disease of the oral cavity that destroys the tooth structure as a result of the existence of acid caused by bacterial plaque.
This type of dental condition is closely related to poor hygiene and eating habits. However, there are other factors such as genetics, the consumption of certain drugs, or other types of diseases that can also cause tooth decay.
Prevention is the best treatment for cavities, but if we cannot avoid it, early detection and treatment with a filling (dental filling) will prevent the case from worsening and we may lose the affected tooth.
Tooth filling, caries treatment
The dental reconstruction through a shutter, which is commonly known as a dental filling, is the main treatment for removing decay of our teeth.
Obturation is the process in which tissue is removed from the affected tooth and the gap is filled with a material called composite (filling). For this reason, this treatment is known by the population as “dental filling”, although technically speaking it should be called filling.
A well-done dental filling, accompanied by good hygiene and eating habits, will prevent the tooth from being lost and another cavity from reappearing.
Steps to make a filling
The decay can be discovered through the self-examination of the patient or periodic reviews with the dentist. However, seeing a cavity when it is small and does not cause discomfort or pain is difficult, especially in the upper teeth and molars.
Once decay has been discovered or there are signs, it will be necessary to put yourself in the hands of a dentist to analyze and treat the case. The steps are the following:
- Before proceeding to perform a filling, a complete diagnosis is carried out, to see the depth of caries and how far it has affected. For this stage, we will use x-rays and a dental probe.
- Before the obturation, the area is numbed with local anesthesia so that the patient does not have discomfort during the approximately 40 minutes that the procedure will last.
- With the help of a lathe, a dental tool, the cavity of the affected tooth is emptied to clean it and eliminate cavities.
- The cavity generated is cleaned with water and we place an adhesive, called an etcher, so that the filling, subsequently placed, remains fixed.
- The hole is filled with the filling to rebuild the tooth and we harden it through an LED light.
- After the filling has dried and hardened, the filling is polished to give it the original shape of the tooth and that the bite is correct.
If tooth decay has already affected the nerve, the patient will most likely experience discomfort, pain, and infection and require root canal treatment.
Types of dental fillings
When making a dental filling it is possible to have different types of materials to reconstruct the tooth :
Composite for fillings
The composite, also known as composite resins, is characterized by similar color to the tooth so, aesthetically speaking, it is the best and most used.
It is placed directly at the same appointment after the tooth cavity has been emptied and cleaned.
Gold and porcelain for fillings
Even though this type of material is highly durable due to its high resistance and does not pose a risk to the health of patients, it has practically ceased to be used due to the long and expensive process it requires.
When placing a gold and porcelain filling, it is necessary to have the collaboration of a prosthetics laboratory to manufacture the piece to measure, and, therefore, the filling cannot be performed in a single appointment.
Silver amalgam in fillings
This type of material is currently in disuse to make dental fillings, mainly due to its aesthetic factor and because it contains mercury.
However, despite the doubts about this material for the body, to date, there is no scientific evidence that guarantees them.
Is it normal to feel pain after having a dental filling?
Once the patient’s mouth wakes up from the anesthesia, it is normal that during the first days they feel minor discomfort or sensitivity when eating or brushing their teeth.
If these discomforts or sensitivity last more than a week, it is necessary to contact the dentist to be able to evaluate the case and check that everything is going well.
