Filling Treatment

After the tooth decays are detected, they must be treated without wasting time. The treatment of dental caries is done with filling. Filling is an application to give the tooth its natural form before decay by covering the cavity with suitable materials in order to ensure aesthetics and function after the removal of decay.

When choosing the filling material to be used, the position and function of the tooth are taken into consideration. Since the chewing function basically takes place in the area of ​​the molars, these teeth are exposed to more pressure. For this reason, when filling molars, more durable fillers should be used compared to the front teeth. In the front teeth, a filling material that is in harmony with the color of the tooth is preferred so that the filling is not noticed as much as possible.

AMALGAM FILLERS
Amalgam fillings are also known as silver fillings. It is obtained by mixing amalgam, silver, tin and copper alloy with mercury. Amalgam fillings have been used for about 150 years.

Advantages of Amalgam Fillings:
It is the cheapest and longest lasting filler.
It can be applied in a shorter time than other filling materials.
Disadvantages of Amalgam Fillings:
It is not aesthetic.
There may be an allergy to the mercury in it.
There is controversy regarding the mercury content of amalgam filling. However, as mercury combines with other metals in amalgam, its chemical structure changes and becomes harmless.

Things to pay attention
Since the hardening of amalgam takes an average of 2 hours, it should not be eaten for 2 hours after the amalgam filling is made. If something is eaten before this time passes, since the filling is not fully hardened, it may break as a result of the force on it.

Over time, a corrosion layer forms on the amalgam. To prevent this, the amalgam needs to be polished. However, the polishing process can be carried out 24 hours after filling.

If there is a large amount of amalgam filling in the mouth, there may be sensitivity due to electrification when a metal such as a fork is in the mouth. If it can be precisely determined that the sensitivity is caused by this reason, it can be replaced with a non-metallic filler.

COMPOSITE (TOOTH COLOR) FILLERS
Since composite fillings are tooth-colored, they are also called white fillings. Although they could only be used on the front teeth when they were first developed, they can now be used in the back teeth as the resistance to chewing forces is increased and the amount of abrasion is reduced over time.

Advantages of Composite Fillings
The biggest advantages of composite fillings are their aesthetics.
They can be polished immediately after the filling.
It can be used not only for the restoration of caries, but also for cosmetic procedures by changing the color and shape of teeth.
Disadvantages of Composite Fillings
Composite fillings are applied layer by layer and cured with a special light. For this reason, it takes longer and more difficult to make than amalgam.
Its price is more expensive than amalgam.
Although composite fillings have been made quite durable recently, they are not as durable as amalgam.
Color change may occur in a long time.
Things to pay attention
Being careful when biting in large fillings will extend the life of the filling.
Although composite fillings are polished well, color change may occur over time depending on food and drink.
As with amalgam, there is no restriction of not eating for 2 hours after the filling is made.
For teeth restored due to abrasion, a hard toothbrush should not be used and brushing method should be considered.