A plastic filling is the restoration of structural damage in the teeth with a material made of a permanent tooth-filling plastic composite.
What is a plastic filling?
What are the reasons for placing a plastic filling?
The reasons for placing a plastic filling are mainly the treatment of caries and their resulting holes, defective existing fillings or aesthetic restorations.
What does the procedure involve?
After a thorough removal of the defective filling and/or the bacterially infected and decayed tooth substance, the tooth is prepared for the filling procedure. Since modern composite materials adhere to the tooth structure with the help of an adhesion mechanism, various special conditions must be met.
On the one hand, the tooth must be completely dry, in order for the adhesive bond to be established, as saliva or blood can drastically reduce the strength of the bond or even make it impossible. Sometimes it is necessary to isolate the tooth from the oral cavity with a silicone sheet (dental dam). This way, the adhesive connections to the enamel and the dentin can now be established.
Since composite has the unfavorable property of shrinking when it hardens, it is applied in many small portions with careful alignment (to ensure directional shrinkage) and hardened with curing light. The surface is subsequently adapted to the tooth contact pattern and polished.
What are the risks?
There are no special risks in the conventional sense when using a composite filling. Specific problems can occur with defects that are particularly close to the nerve and may require root canal treatment.
What results can one expect?
The durability of a composite filling presupposes a correct diagnostic. A plastic filling is not necessarily recommended in the case of serious structural damage. Its resistance is significantly lower than that of ceramic or gold.
Disproportionate wear and a new filling that may become necessary are possible disadvantages. With proper, careful application and with taking material properties into consideration, the dimension and location of a defect, permanent and completely invisible results can be achieved with composite fillings.
What other alternatives are there?
A restoration with all-ceramic inlays can be considered in the case of medium-sized defects in the posterior region. In the case of anterior tooth defects, a veneer or a crown can alternatively be opted for. We will provide you with the best support in making your decision.
We invite you to schedule dental check-up.
A dental examination is the first step before considering any treatment.
We would be happy to take care of your oral health.