“What seal should you put?” - such a question is asked in many dental clinics in order to determine the best option. However, this may be confusing for some patients. But the classification of filling material today is rich in a fairly wide range. In dentistry, it is customary to divide it into types, depending on the composition and application. This article will consider what options exist.
But first, it is worth taking into account some of the requirements that apply to these materials. Subsequently, this will help determine the optimal solution.
A number of requirements
What should be a good seal? If the purpose of the procedure is to fill the cavity in the dental tissues, then, without a doubt, each of the types of filling material should differ in plasticity, viscosity and strength after hardening. There are also other requirements for modern options:
- First of all, we are talking about environmental friendliness and safety for the health of patients.
- Inertness of the material with respect to the acidic environment.
- A filling should not react with either food or saliva.
- Ideally, the color of the material should match the shade of natural bone tissue, not standing out.
- The seal should harden in a short time.
In addition, the materials for filling the channels should have the necessary wear resistance, as well as preserve color throughout the entire service life. In addition, the material should be lightly processed.
Another important factor in the choice of material for dental fillings is the manufacturer. German, Israeli and European manufacturers produce products of truly high quality and in full compliance with modern healthcare requirements for safe use.
In addition, seals from these manufacturers are reliable and remain throughout the entire period of operation. A clear minus of foreign analogues in comparison with a domestic product is its high cost.
Temporary measure
In dentistry, not only permanent fillings are used, but also a temporary measure. This is done in cases where it is impossible to cure a tooth in one session. Temporary filling materials allow you to close the opened cavity of the tooth or fill defects in hard tissues. Materials can be either single-component or two-component. Moreover, they are designed for a certain period of time - until the next treatment session.
In addition, if the doctor doubts that after the treatment pulpitis does not develop, then he also seeks the help of a temporary filling. And this kind of material is called diagnostic.
Unlike seals on an ongoing basis, temporary analogues are made of not quite durable materials. This is done for obvious reasons - so that at the next treatment session it can be easily removed. Thanks to which time is greatly saved. As a rule, this is artificial dentin. With this material, arsenic paste is isolated, which serves to kill the pulp of the tooth.
Materials for temporary filling
Filling materials for channels of a temporary nature, in addition to ensuring that the cavity is completely tight, must not break under the influence of a chewing load. It is this factor that dentists should consider when choosing a particular material. But if the situation requires a long sealing period, then permanent filling materials should be used.
And since this is just a temporary measure, certain requirements are still imposed on it. And in addition to the already mentioned, the material should quickly prepare, not stick to the tools and be resistant to physical and chemical stresses.
The most common materials are the following options:
- oil dentin (dentin paste);
- polymeric materials;
- water dentin (artificial).
In addition, several types of cement are used - zinc-sulfate, zinc-eugenol, polycarboxylate, glass ionomer. Also, in some cases, dentists use dental pads.
Water artificial seal
Artificial dentin is a drug that is prepared from two main components. The first of them is a powder, which includes zinc oxide and sulfate, kaolin. The second component is distilled water. To obtain the product, the powder is mixed on a glass plate (it has a rough surface) with water to the desired consistency.
The main advantages of the drug include the speed of preparation and ease of use. Also remove such a seal is not difficult. In addition, the seal is quite strong to withstand physical exertion. Water dentin is also resistant to chemical attack. And what is good for patients is the absence of an irritating effect on the pulp of the tooth.
In addition, the drug has a low cost, which means it is available to a wide segment of the population. Among the shortcomings can be noted the rapid wear of the material. The service life of the seal is not more than 14 days from the date of application of the composition.
Finished pasta
This is also dentin of artificial origin, only here, instead of distilled water, clove or peach oil is used. And unlike the water counterpart discussed above, this drug is available in finished form. That is, you do not need to mix anything first.
The material is also easy to use, and hardens under the influence of saliva within 3 hours. But in comparison with the same already familiar water dentin, the oil analog has more enhanced strength characteristics. The seal is able to withstand significant loads during chewing food.
In addition, this temporary filling material is also a good antiseptic. As for the period of operation, the life of oil dentin can be up to 6 months.
Polymer materials
As a temporary measure, polymeric materials specially made for this purpose can also be used. As a rule, these are one-component pastes resembling rubber in their consistency.
- Clip.
- Voco.
- Cimpat LC.
- Septodont.
- Fermit.
- Vivadent.
These materials are very convenient to use, have excellent adhesive properties in relation to the walls of the oral cavity. Also, they are characterized by a high degree of elasticity and also, after hardening, the seal shows a neutral character to everything.
In terms of application, such pastes do not need pre-treatment of the tooth with adhesive systems. Only before applying the composition, the tooth cavity must be dried. The hardening of the seal is carried out using a device for light polymerization.
Medical pads in dentistry
Gaskets in dentistry are used in cases where the carious process has already affected the deep layers of tissues, but at the same time there is a chance of preserving the pulp and reversing the lesion.
At the same time, the use of gaskets is fraught with a number of invaluable and positive aspects:
- dentin closes hermetically;
- the presence of anti-inflammatory properties;
- restoration of bone dental tissues;
- lack of interaction on the pulp;
- full combination with filling materials on an ongoing basis.
At the same time, gaskets should have plasticity, increased strength and at the same time be resistant to environmental influences. For this, various materials are used. For example, a variant based on calcium hydroxide - when it is decomposed, dentin is supplied with calcium ions, which contributes to the formation of replacement tissues. The material is used in the form of varnish, aqueous suspension or cements, which harden under the influence of chemistry or light.
Zinc-eugenol materials contain eugenol. And this, in fact, is an antiseptic, and of natural origin.
Combined medical pads in dentistry are sold ready-made or they can be prepared on site. Based on the composition, they have the necessary qualities, and above all, this:
- anti-inflammatory effect;
- bactericidal properties;
- stimulation of the regeneration of dentinal tissue;
- anesthesia;
- elimination of acute inflammation of the pulp.
The role of dental pads is difficult to overestimate, and in the case of deep caries, they are simply necessary. Their use is just due to the presence of bactericidal properties in this form of the disease. Moreover, this is a prerequisite, because during surgery there is a risk of infection of the pulp by pathogenic microorganisms. As a result, everything can end with subsequent infection and suppuration.
In this regard, in order to protect the dental root system, many dentists resort to dental pads. As a rule, they are not able to cause discomfort in patients.
Classification of filling material in modern dentistry
The materials used in modern dentistry for permanent fillings allow you to restore the original structure of the dental element. They lay the root canals and can perfectly simulate not only enamel, but also dentin. We have already familiarized ourselves with a number of requirements and they are guided by many doctors, meticulously assessing the quality of the feedstock.
It is important to take into account the pour time of the filling composition, during which the material remains plastic and retains the ability to form. You should also take into account the method of rejection - on its own or under the influence of UV rays of a certain spectrum. Equally important is the quality of the material after it is rejected. That is, at what exact time the seal is able to maintain the given shape and shape.
Building dental material
The classification of filling materials also includes cement. His goals are a bit similar. Here there is a fairly extensive group of materials. Depending on the goals, they all have different composition and properties. The filling mass is usually done by mixing two or three components with a liquid medium. As the latter can be used distilled water or a special acid.
At the same time, while the work is being carried out, the material retains plasticity for formation. But after curing, the cement hardens, and changing the shape will no longer be possible. As for the time of rejection, it is different for each type. In addition, cement is able to create a favorable antibacterial environment.
The most common types are silicate, phosphate and glassomer cement. Silicate dental cement for fixing crowns allows you to easily achieve a cosmetic effect, since you can choose any color for natural teeth. In addition, such a seal may release fluoride. And this element will prevent re-infection with caries.
Glass counters fit tightly with the dental crown. This material hardens under the influence of ultraviolet radiation. But before that, the doctor can slowly carry out all the necessary manipulations. However, such a seal is quickly erased and can absorb food coloring.
Composites
Composite fillings are optimal and inexpensive solutions that exist in dentistry. Their composition includes several components of both natural and artificial origin and in most cases include glass ionomer additives.
In this case, the particle size of the composite filling materials is selected depending on the location of the filling area. The large size is relevant for those areas where resistance to large chewing loads is required.
There are several groups of composite materials:
- chemical;
- light hardening.
Composite materials are characterized by good wear resistance, provide adequate protection to tooth tissues and are able to prevent the further development of the carious process. Their distinctive feature is the content of quartz powder. Actually due to this, the desired hardness of the fillings is provided. In addition to durability, the seals are quite durable - the average service life can be from 2 to 5 years.
Chemical filling material
Such seals created using polymer resins are currently in great demand at the moment. And all thanks to the elasticity of the material, aesthetic appearance, tightness of fit to the dental element. In addition, there is no shrinkage.
Typically, composites in dentistry were developed with the aim of replacing cement analogs. Its distinctive feature lies in the filler - porcelain. Such composites can, in turn, be divided into several subspecies:
- light curing;
- acrylic;
- on epoxy.
At the same time, those fillings, which include acrylic, are characterized by higher strength and stability, which is an undoubted plus. At the same time, they are very toxic. It was often noticed that after the installation of acrylic fillings, many pores appeared. Subsequently, this threatens the inevitable development of pulpitis or the secondary appearance of caries, not only on the same tooth, but also on neighboring elements.
Resin-based composites are rather brittle, but less susceptible to abrasion. Also a plus is the lack of toxicity in contrast to acrylic analogues. But after several years after installation, the seals darken.
Light fillings
Despite the fact that chemical analogues are quite widespread in dentistry, light, light-curing or light-curing filling materials are even more popular. The material placed in the tooth cavity begins to harden under the influence of light from a special lamp (usually a halogen lamp). Based on this, such materials are called gel-cured or photopolymer.
The color can be matched to the tone of natural teeth, and due to this, not only chewing, but also the front elements can be restored. This can already be considered a major advantage. Other advantages of light composites:
- aesthetic appearance;
- minimal shrinkage;
- relative strength.
Regarding the last point - after installation, the seal will not destroy the thin walls of the tooth and exert strong pressure on the opposite element. In addition, composites are able to last more than a dozen years with the preservation of shape and color, without giving strong shrinkage.
Even today, composites continue to improve, including how to install fillings on a tooth. In this regard, the scope of their application is expanding markedly. Filling with this material is relevant not only in the treatment of caries, they will be useful for other purposes. Using this material, you can eliminate chips and cracks between the teeth, as well as adjust their position.
In conclusion
Materials for filling in dentistry are necessary in order to restore the structure and lost functionality of the tooth. The list of them is quite large, as each time more and more new options appear. In this case, the main quality is to block the development of the carious process, to prevent the penetration of infection into the deep layers of tissues in order to avoid further destruction of the tooth. Moreover, this applies not only to permanent, but also temporary fillings.
The choice of this or that material for installing the fillings on the tooth is largely due to several factors:
- patient age;
- extent of destruction;
- the degree of violation of the functionality of the tooth.
Treatment in the dentist’s office will be successful if you contact only specialists with high qualifications and extensive experience.
In the end, it remains to make some practical advice. When visiting the clinic, patients should always be interested in what materials for filling doctors have. You should also ask a specialist regarding the advantages and disadvantages.
In other words, having an idea of the classification of filling materials, you can independently decide in favor of one or another option.