Obturation (Filling)
Usually tooth fillings are made with composite resin (white material), it is a polymer material that can be ‘’sticked’’ on the dental tissue and replace a part of the tooth that is missing due to caries, wear, trauma, or for aesthetic reasons. Black (amalgam) fillings are no longer in use.
Composite resin (White Filling) Compared to Amalgam (Black filling) :
Advantages:
High aesthetics, as they seem like natural teeth material
They are usually completed in a single visit to the dental office.
Disadvantages
Their lower resistance in time compared to amalgams
Possible hypersensitivity of the teeth after the filling is completed (resin in some cases disturbs the nerve of the tooth), although in most cases this hypersensitivity is transient.
FAQ
Most frequent questions and answers
There is a dispute about the possible adverse health effects of “black” fillings in the dental world. It is true that there is a large percentage of mercury in amalgams which is highly toxic.
Recent researches show that” black ” fillings release a very small percentage of mercury vapor during chewing.
Whether and whether this small percentage of mercury is harmful to the body, is a matter of dispute.
Usually no, it’s not worth it.
The main reason is aesthetic reasons.
However , You need to know, that there is a possibility, especially in teeth with large amalgam fillings that endodontic treatment (root canal) may be required after the removal of the old fillings.
In some cases, the dentist may tells you that you need to replace your old amalgam fillings due to the fact that they have lost contact with the tooth etc.
Now there are novel” White “materials with properties similar to” black ” fillings. But it is true that the life expectancy of a “white” filling is considered to be less compared to “black” ones.
The life of a white filling depends :
From the initial extent of the damage, the greater the damage, the greater the filling and therefore the more fragile it is.
Maintaining good oral health
Eating ( and chewing in general). If you are used to chewing hard foods or chewing hard objects, it is quite possible to “miss” or brake the filling.
Gridding of teeth (bruxism)