Dental Fillings: What are They?

Dental fillings are tools that are used in corrective dentistry with the aim of repairing the minimal tooth cracking, cavities and discredited surfaces of the teeth.

Choosing: Points to Ponder

When it comes to the choice of dental filling it is important to take up the following 4 factors into account:

Physical Property: The physical property of the dental materials is one of the pointers to be contemplated. This can refer to heat insulation property of the filling, chemical resistance and erosive tendency of the filling, its bonding strength and the resistance it offers to the wear and tear it is likely to undergo.

Biocompatibility: Biocompatibility is the next important factor that needs intent consideration. This property in turn refers to general, immunological and bio-energetic biocompatibility. Toxicity of the material at cellular level is analyzed to determine the general biocompatibility. The individual’s reaction to the material is the point of discussion in case of immunological biocompatibility. Bio-energetic biocompatibility deals with how the material reacts with the body at the energetic level. Dental material chosen should be generally, immunologically and bio-energetically biocompatible.

Aesthetics: The look should be similar to that of the natural teeth. Dental fillings should be aesthetically appealing and remarkably attractive.

Application: The application of the chosen dental material should be easy and painless.

Aesthetic and Biocompatible Dental Fillings

Amalgam has been reported to be one of the very widely used dental filling materials. Since it contains 50% mercury in it, the use of it has raised several concerns and ambiguity still abounds even amidst the fact that FDA and ADA have stated that the usage of amalgam as a dental filling is completely safe. In addition to the concern about amalgam’s biocompatibility, it has also testified that it is not aesthetically appealing. Galloy is seen as one of best substitutes for amalgam since it is mercury free. It is mainly composed of tin, indium, gallium, copper and silver.

Direct composites are aesthetically appealing. They are inexpensive and easy to lay. They last long. But the composites contain petrochemical derivates and hence can prove to be environmentally sensitive. Indirect composite inlays/outlays are considered when durability is the most important factor. These indirect composites can be made up of ceramics, gold or titanium.

Ceramic inlays/onlays are yet other option for dental materials. However, though they are aesthetically appealing, the usage of ceramic dental fillings has proven to be challenging.

Gold inlays/onlays prove to be aesthetically unappealing. They are extremely noble. However, they offer maximum strength though they prove to be bio incompatible in case of people who are allergic to certain metals like palladium.Titanium inlays/outlays are alternative to gold alloys and circumvent the bio-incompatibility associated with gold alloys.