How to eliminate caries? The best option is to use modern filling materials. In dentistry, various groups of fillers are used for these purposes. The choice of a particular composition depends on many factors: its properties, safety for the body, cost. The following overview of dental materials will help guide the patient.
Filling material is divided into the following types:
1. Silver amalgam. This material has actually lost its former popularity, is morally obsolete, and has hardly been used recently. It contains mercury, the vapors of which are highly toxic. The widespread use of silver amalgam in dentistry was due to a number of advantages: strength, durability, high antibacterial performance, low cost. Significant disadvantages: low adhesion, repeated visits to the doctor are required to grind the filling, unaesthetic appearance, tooth tissues may darken and break off, toxicity, loose marginal 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. Mixed with distilled water or polyacrylic acid (50% solution).
Dignity:
- hardens quickly - within minutes;
- releases fluorine, promotes the regeneration of tooth tissues - consists of a mixture of fluoroaluminosilicate and polyacrylic acid (such a filling prevents the recurrence of caries, so glass ionomer cement is indispensable for the treatment of milk teeth);
- moisture resistance - can be used as an insulating gasket that protects tooth tissues from destructive aggressive effects;
- harmlessness - does not irritate the pulp;
- high adhesion - able to bind with calcium in hard dental tissues.
3. Composite filling materials. Most in demand lately. The composite consists of an organic matrix (synthetic resin) and an inorganic filler (quartz powder). For the treatment of posterior teeth, a material with larger quartz particles is used to provide the necessary strength for a long time.
Advantages of composites:
- abrasion resistance;
- he alth safety;
- high strength;
- ease of use;
- perfect polish;
- opportunityfor successful restoration of anterior teeth;
- high aesthetic properties - filling material allows you to maximally imitate the natural color, texture, transparency, i.e. gives a dry shine effect;
- wide range.
Possible complications:
- sensitivity - occurs when the treatment technique is violated, the laying of a large portion of the material;
- fast erasure, loss, if the filling material is incorrectly selected, also the composite cannot be used to treat patients with increased abrasion of tooth enamel;
- tooth destruction, chipping of its walls - composite material should not be used to restore a tooth crown that has been 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 assess the condition of the teeth and suggest the best option for a particular patient.
