How to eliminate tooth decay? The best option is to use modern filling materials. In dentistry, various groups of fillers are used for these purposes. The choice of a specific composition depends on many factors: its properties, safety for the body, cost. The following brief overview of materials for dental treatment will help the patient to navigate.
The filling material is divided into the following types:
1. Silver amalgam. This material has actually lost its former popularity, has become obsolete, and has recently been almost never used. It contains mercury, the vapors of which are highly toxic. The widespread use of silver amalgam in dentistry was due to several advantages: strength, durability, high antibacterial rates, low cost. Significant disadvantages: low adhesion, a second visit to the doctor is necessary to polish the fillings, an unaesthetic appearance, tooth tissue may darken and break off, toxicity, loose edge fit.
2. Dental cements. Widely used about twenty years ago. The best filling material from this group, which is still used today, is glass ionomer cement. Composition: silicon, aluminum, fluorine. It is mixed with distilled water or polyacrylic acid (50% solution).
Advantages:
- hardens quickly - within a few minutes;
- releases fluoride, promotes tooth tissue regeneration - consists of a mixture of fluoroaluminosilicate and polyacrylic acid (such a seal serves as a prevention of caries recurrence, therefore glass ionomer cement is indispensable for treating milk teeth);
- moisture resistance - can be used as an insulating pad that protects tooth tissue from damaging aggressive effects;
- harmlessness - does not irritate the pulp;
- high adhesion - able to bind to calcium of hard dental tissues.
3. Composite filling materials. Most in demand recently. The composite consists of an organic matrix (synthetic resin) and an inorganic filler (silica powder). For the treatment of chewing teeth, a material with larger particles of quartz is used to provide the necessary strength for a long time.
Advantages of composites:
- resistance to abrasion;
- safety for health;
- high strength;
- ease of use;
- perfect polishing;
- the possibility of using for successful restoration of the front teeth;
- high aesthetic properties - filling material allows you to maximally simulate the natural color, texture, transparency, i.e. gives the effect of dry shine;
- a wide range of.
Possible complications:
- sensitivity - occurs in case of violation of the treatment technique, laying a large portion of the material;
- quick erasure, loss, if the filling material is incorrectly selected, the composite can not be used to treat patients with increased abrasion of tooth enamel;
- tooth decay, cleavage of its walls - composite material should not be used to restore the tooth crown , destroyed by more than 50%.
Thus, the choice of a specific filling composition - cement, metal or polymer - is best left to the dentist. He will evaluate the condition of the teeth and offer the best option for a particular patient.