Tooth filling

Tooth fillings are of two types — Temporary or permanent. There are commonly used for treatment of dental caries.

Characteristics of Good Cement

• Good attachment
• Color matching with teeth
• Hard
• Not undergoing corrosion
• Coefficient of thermal expansion equal to teeth
• Fast setting
• Easy to manipulate
• Easy preparation

Some Fillings

1. Miracle mix

• Silver and glass ionomer cement (GIC)
• Silver: hard but not sticky
• GIC: Sticky but not hard
• Takes 2 hr to set, therefore do not allow to drink for 2 hrs, use waterproof cream to prevent from action of saliva

1. Silver filling
2. GIC filling
3. Composite filling

• Light and strong

Steps

1. Acid etch applied on surface of enamel

• 34% orthophosphonic acid
• Dematerializes surface of tooth creating pores

2. After few seconds, wash.

• There will be a dull chalky white discoloration

3. Bonding liquid (organic monomer) added

• Flows into the pores formed by etching and fills the pores

4. Composite material added over this

5. Light (intense blue visible light) passed

• Polymerizes organic monomer and sets the composite material

6. After filling patient is asked to bite so that any extra filling material is removed and material fits the shape of teeth

There Are Two Types Of Composite:

• Light cure composite which requires light for setting (Light source used is halogen).
• Self cure composite: Sets on its own, but disadvantage is that while working in high room temperature, sets before finishing the filling