Teeth are always apt to decay that invades the inner layer of the teeth if left untreated, leading to tooth loss. This can be avoided by referring to the dentist at earlier stages of dental decay to have the teeth cleaned and filled. In this article, we provide you with all the details of having tooth filling and the benefits of having dental filling in Iran with Ariana Medicare Tour Services.

Dental fillings in Iran: Everything you need to know

Teeth are prone to decay for many reasons. Caries gradually and continuously dissolves the enamel. Unfortunately, in most cases there is no sign of pain at this stage, so the caries continues and attacks the second layer of the tooth (dentin).
Symptoms of pain at this stage are increasingly observed and mostly dissolved in the tooth structure. Eventually, the inflammation reaches the pulp and the patient must go to the dentist for treatment of excruciating pain, but this means removing the pulp and removing tooth decay. It is a pity that the teeth become very pale and you may need tooth filling alternatives such as tooth crowns or bridges to protect the rest of the teeth, or you may need to have a tooth extracted.
If the patient asks the dentist for help, all these undesirable complications can be prevented and it should be better as soon as possible. The dentist removes the damaged tissue and fills the cavity with one of the tooth fillings. By doing this, the patient receives medical services that may take up to fifteen years.

What materials are dental fillings made from?

Dental filling materials include:

• Gold.
• Porcelain.
• Silver amalgam (contains mercury mixed with silver, tin, zinc, and copper).
• Tooth-colored, plastic and glass materials called composite resin fillings.

Are there advantages and disadvantages to various filling materials?

Yes. Advantages and disadvantages of the various dental filling materials are as follows:
Advantages:

• Gold: Lasts at least 10 to 15 years, some say gold presents a pleasing appearance.
• Silver fillings (amalgams): Lasts at least 10 to 15 years, less expensive than composite fillings.
• Tooth-colored composite fillings: Shade can be closely matched to color of existing teeth, bonds to existing tooth providing additional support, commonly used for repairs other than cavity filling, sometimes less tooth needs to be removed compared with amalgams.
• Ceramics/porcelain: Lasts more than 15 years, more resistant to staining than composite resin material.
• Glass ionomer (acrylic and a specific type of glass material): Mostly used for fillings below the gum line, releases fluoride that can help protect from further tooth decay.

Disadvantages:

• Gold: More expensive than other materials, may require more than one office visit to place.
• Silver: May require more tooth to be removed to make space large enough to hold filling, creates grayish hue to the surrounding tooth structure, may have higher risk of tooth cracks and fractures due to wider degree of expansion and contraction, allergic potential in some people.
• Tooth-colored composite fillings: Lasts at least five years (less than the 10 to 15 years of other materials), may chip off tooth depending on location, can cost up to twice as much as amalgams, can take more time to place and/or additional visits.
• Ceramics: Can cost as much as gold.
• Glass ionomer: Is weaker than composite resin, more likely to wear and prone to fracture, lasts five years or less, costs comparable to composite fillings.

What are indirect fillings?

Indirect fillings are similar to composite or tooth-colored fillings except that they are made in a dental laboratory and require two visits before being placed. Indirect fillings are considered when you don’t have enough tooth structure remains to support a filling, but your tooth is not so severely damaged that it needs a crown.During the first visit, decay or an old filling is removed. An impression is taken to record the shape of the tooth being repaired and the teeth around it. The impression is sent to a dental laboratory that makes the indirect filling. A temporary filling (described below) is placed to protect the tooth while your restoration is being made. During the second visit, the temporary filling is removed, and the dentist checks the fit of the indirect restoration. If the fit is acceptable, it will be permanently cemented into place.There are two types of indirect fillings – inlays and onlays.

• Inlays:  are similar to fillings but the entire work lies within the cusps (bumps) on the chewing surface of the tooth.
• Onlays: are more extensive than inlays, covering one or more cusps. Onlays are sometimes called partial crowns.

Inlays and onlays are more durable and last much longer than traditional fillings – up to 30 years. They can be made of tooth-colored composite resin, porcelain or gold. Inlays and onlays weaken the tooth structure, but do so to a much lower extent than traditional fillings.Another type of inlay and onlay – direct inlays and onlays – follow the same processes and procedures as the indirect, the difference is that direct inlays and onlays are made in the dental office and can be placed in one visit. The type of inlay or onlay used depends on how much sound tooth structure remains and cosmetic concerns.

What's a temporary filling and why would I need one?

You might need a temporary fillings:

• If more than one appointment is needed for your filling. For example, before placement of gold fillings and for indirect fillings that use composite materials.
• Following a root canal.
• To allow your tooth’s nerve to “settle down” if the pulp became irritated.
• If emergency dental treatment is needed (such as to address a toothache).

Temporary fillings are just that; they are not meant to last. They usually fall out, fracture, or wear out within one month. Be sure to keep your appointment to have your temporary filling replaced with a permanent one. If you don’t, your tooth could become infected or you could have other complications.

Who Needs A Dental Filling?

Anything that looks abnormal needs to be carefully checked with special instruments. The dentist may X-ray your entire mouth or a section of it based on the extent of damage caused by decay. Only a dentist can determine whether you have a cavity that needs to be filled by using a small mirror to check the surfaces of each tooth.

Are silver amalgam fillings safe?

• People at greater risk include:
• Pregnant women and their developing fetuses.
• Women who are planning to become pregnant.
• Nursing women and their newborns.
• Children, especially those younger than six years of age.
• People with pre-existing neurological diseases including Alzheimer's disease, multiple sclerosis or Parkinson’s disease.
• People with impaired kidney function.
• People with sensitivity or allergy to mercury or other components of dental amalgam.

The FDA does not recommend removing dental amalgam in people at higher risk if the amalgam is in good condition, suggesting that to do so would increase exposure to mercury vapor and result in more risks than benefits.

How should I care for my teeth with fillings?

To maintain your fillings, you should follow good oral hygiene practices:

• Visiting your dentist regularly (twice a year) for cleanings.
• Brush with a fluoride-containing toothpaste.
• Floss at least once daily.

Call your dentist if:

• Your tooth is extremely sensitive.
• You feel a sharp edge.
• You notice a crack in a filling or if a piece of the filling is missing.

Your dentist will take X-rays if he or she suspects that one of your fillings might be cracked or is “leaking” (when the sides of the filling don't fit tightly against the tooth, debris and saliva can seep down between the filling and the tooth, which leads to decay).

What causes tooth sensitivity after getting a dental filling?

Tooth sensitivity is relatively common after filling. Your teeth may be sensitive to pressure, air, sugary foods or temperature. This allergy usually goes away on its own within a few weeks. Avoid the cause of allergies until then. You usually do not need to take painkillers.

Contact your dentist if the allergy does not go away in two to four weeks or if your tooth is very sensitive. He or she may recommend the use of an allergenic toothpaste, may use an allergen on the tooth, or possibly suggest a root canal procedure.

Why do I feel pain around my dental filling?

There are several reasons why you might have pain after a dental filling. Each has a different cause.

• Pain when you bite: Your filling is interfering with your bite. Return to your dentist and have the filling reshaped.
• Pain when your teeth touch: Your pain is likely caused by the touching of two different metal surfaces (for example, the silver amalgam in a newly filled tooth and a gold crown on another tooth with which it touches). This pain should go away on its own within a short period of time.
• Toothache-type pain: This pain might occur if the decay was very deep to the pulp of the tooth. This “toothache” response may mean this tissue is no longer healthy and a root canal procedure is needed.
• Referred pain: Referred pain is pain or sensitivity in other teeth besides the one that was filled. There’s likely nothing wrong with your teeth. The filled tooth is simply passing along “pain signals” it’s receiving to other teeth. This pain should decrease on its own over one to two weeks.

Why or when would a dental filling need to be replaced?

There are three main reasons why dental fillings would need to be replaced.

• Normal wear and tear: Constant pressure from chewing, grinding or clenching can cause dental fillings to wear away, chip or crack. Although you may not be able to tell that your filling is wearing down, your dentist can identify weaknesses in your restorations during a regular check-up.
• Filling fails and decay develops: If the seal between the tooth enamel and the filling breaks down, food particles and decay-causing bacteria can work their way under the filling. You then run the risk of developing additional decay in that tooth. Decay that is left untreated can progress to infect the dental pulp and may cause an abscessed tooth.
• Filling and/or decay is large: If the filling is large or the recurrent decay is extensive, there may not be enough tooth structure remaining to support a replacement filling. In these cases, your dentist may need to replace the filling with a crown.

Can a person be allergic to amalgam fillings?

It’s possible but fewer than 100 cases have ever been reported, according to the ADA. In these rare occasions, mercury or one of the metals used in an amalgam restoration is thought to trigger the allergic response. Symptoms of amalgam allergy are similar to those experienced in a typical skin allergy and include skin rashes and itching. If you've had an allergic reaction to an amalgam, it’s likely that you have a medical or family history of allergies to metals. Once an allergy is confirmed, another restorative material can be used.

WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO GET TEETH FILLING?

When there is more or less decay in your teeth, it continues to destroy the tooth structure and may reach the pulp with severe pain, so you should remove the tooth pulp and put a filling and veneer to protect it. Or you may need to have your teeth extracted. Early treatment means you can avoid all of these consequences.