Dental Fillings
Oral and dental health is one of the fundamental elements that directly affect an individual’s general physiological condition and determine the quality of life. While the effectiveness of chewing function is considered the beginning of the digestive system; phonation (speech) and aesthetic appearance also support the individual’s psychosocial well-being. However, material losses can occur in dental hard tissues due to the activity of cariogenic (decay-causing) bacteria, acidic foods, traumas, or structural disorders. The main goal of dentistry is to repair this lost tissue in a way that restores function and aesthetics. The most frequently used method in this repair process is Dental Filling applications. With developing technology, filling materials have ceased to be merely substances that close the cavity and have transformed into tissue-friendly restorations capable of establishing biological and chemical bonds with tooth tissue.
The most important question faced by patients in Kırklareli and its surroundings in their search for restorative treatment is which filling material is more suitable for them. This article discusses current filling types applied at Kırklareli Dental Clinic standards, the chemical structures of materials, their advantages, and clinical indications from a scientific perspective.
Dental Amalgam Fillings: A Historical Overview and Current Situation
Amalgam fillings, used in dentistry for over 150 years, are also known colloquially as “silver fillings” or “metal fillings.” It is an alloy obtained by mixing powder forms of metals such as silver, tin, copper, and zinc with mercury.
- Advantages and Durability: The biggest advantage of amalgam is its very high mechanical durability. It has been preferred for many years in posterior molars where chewing forces are felt most intensely due to its resistance to fracture. Also, its applicability in moist environments (where saliva isolation is difficult) reduces its technical sensitivity.
- Disadvantages and Aesthetic Concerns: It is far from meeting aesthetic expectations due to its metallic color. It can corrode over time, leading to black or gray discolorations in the tooth tissue. Additionally, amalgam does not have the property of chemically bonding to the tooth; it stays in the tooth only by mechanical retention (by specially preparing the cavity shape). This may require removing more substance from healthy tooth tissue. Today, its use has gradually decreased due to the development of aesthetic dentistry and discussions on mercury toxicity. In modern Kırklareli Dental Clinic applications, amalgam has left its place to biomimetic (nature-mimicking) materials.
Composite Resin Fillings: Aesthetic Revolution
Composite resins, known colloquially as “white fillings” or “light-cured fillings,” are the most popular restorative material of today’s dentistry. They consist of inorganic filler particles (glass, quartz, ceramic) embedded in an organic polymer matrix.
- Chemical Bonding Technology: The biggest revolution of composite fillings is their ability to bond chemically to tooth tissue with adhesive systems called “bonding.” This feature makes it sufficient for the physician to only clean the decay; there is no need to remove extra sound tissue for the filling to hold. It is the material most suitable for the principle of minimally invasive dentistry (protective approach).
- Aesthetics and Function: Thanks to its wide color scale, restorations that are exactly compatible with the patient’s natural tooth color can be made. New generation composites showing a chameleon effect reflect the color of the surrounding tissue, making the boundaries of the filling invisible. They are indispensable in repairing fractures in front teeth, closing diastemas (gaps between teeth), and smile design applications. Old prejudices about their use in posterior teeth have been broken thanks to advanced nanotechnology. With their reinforced contents, they now show high resistance against posterior chewing pressures as well.
- Application Sensitivity: Composite Dental Filling application requires technical precision. It is essential to isolate the tooth completely from saliva. Also, the risk of “polymerization shrinkage,” a very small amount of shrinking while the filling hardens, must be minimized with the layering technique (gradual placement).
Porcelain Fillings (Inlay and Onlay): Laboratory Supported Solutions
These are high-level restorations that come into play in cases where there is large substance loss, but cutting and crowning the entire tooth is not desired. It is actually a transitional form between a Dental Filling and a crown.
- Inlay and Onlay Difference:
- Inlay: Fillings placed only inside the tooth if the chewing cusps of the tooth are not damaged.
- Onlay: More comprehensive restorations that also include one or more cusps of the tooth.
Production Process and Advantages: These fillings are produced not inside the mouth but in the laboratory according to the impression taken or with in-clinic CAD/CAM (Computer-Aided Design/Manufacturing) devices. Since they are made of porcelain or reinforced ceramic, they are much more durable than composites and do not change color over time. Since they are polished in a laboratory environment, their surfaces are extremely smooth, which prevents bacterial adhesion. Gum compatibility is excellent. For patients searching for a Kırklareli Dental Clinic, porcelain onlays are one of the most ideal solutions to protect the tooth, especially in root canal treated and weakened teeth.
Glass Ionomer Fillings: Biological Protectors
It is a special filling group preferred especially in pediatric dentistry (pedodontics) and root surface caries.
- Fluoride Release: The most distinctive feature of glass ionomers is that they structurally contain fluoride and can release this into the tooth tissue over time. Fluoride strengthens tooth enamel and prevents the formation of new decay at the filling edge, which we call “secondary caries.” Therefore, it acts as a protective agent in individuals with high caries risk.
- Usage Areas: Their aesthetic properties and durability are not as high as composites. For this reason, they are generally preferred not on the chewing surfaces of permanent molars but on primary teeth, in temporary filling requirements, or root caries under the gum. Sometimes, with a method called the “sandwich technique,” glass ionomer is placed at the very bottom of the tooth, and a composite Dental Filling is placed on top for durability and aesthetics, benefiting from the advantages of both materials.
Clinical Application Procedure
The success of a Dental Filling treatment depends not only on the material used but also on the physician’s adherence to the application protocol. A standard treatment process includes the following stages:
- Anesthesia: The area to be treated is numbed with local anesthesia to prevent the patient from feeling pain.
- Cleaning: Decayed tissue is completely removed with high-speed rotary instruments or laser technology.
- Isolation: It is essential for the tooth to remain dry for the success of the filling. The tooth is isolated from saliva using cotton rolls or a “rubber dam.”
- Preparation (Acid and Bonding): An acid gel that makes microscopic roughening on the tooth surface and then an adhesive agent (bond) are applied for composite fillings.
- Filling Placement: Filling material in the selected color is placed into the cavity in layers, and each layer is hardened with a special blue light device.
- Adjustment and Polishing: After the filling hardens, excesses are removed, height control is performed, and the surface is polished to restore natural tooth shine.
Post-Filling Sensitivity and Care
It is considered normal to experience slight sensitivity, especially to cold and hot foods, for the first few days after treatment. This is a physiological reaction given by the nerve tissue (pulp) of the tooth to the procedure and usually passes spontaneously. However, if the sensitivity continues to increase or turns into pain that wakes you up at night, it may indicate that the filling is high or there is a need for root canal treatment. In such cases, a physician should be consulted without wasting time.
The life of the fillings made varies according to the material used and the patient’s oral hygiene. No Dental Filling is guaranteed for life. However, with regular brushing, flossing, and check-ups every 6 months, composite fillings can stay in the mouth for 7-10 years, and porcelain fillings for 15-20 years and more.
Why Personalized Material Selection?
Intraoral dynamics of every individual are different. Some patients have teeth grinding (bruxism) problems, while others have a very high caries risk. For example, in a patient who clenches teeth intensely, preferring a porcelain onlay, which is more resistant to pressure, instead of a large composite filling in the posterior region will prevent fractures. Physicians in health institutions providing Kırklareli Dental Clinic services aim to recommend the most correct material by analyzing not only filling the cavity but also the patient’s chewing forces, aesthetic expectations, and economic situation.
Especially in anterior aesthetic fillings (bonding), the artistic ability of the physician comes to the fore. Mimicking not only the color of the tooth but also its surface texture, light translucency, and opacity is a process requiring expertise. As stated in resources like Dentince, dramatic improvements in smile aesthetics can be achieved without tooth cutting with composite laminate applications.
Frequently Asked Questions and Misconceptions
- Should I replace my black (amalgam) fillings? If there is no fracture in your filling, no leakage at the edges, or no new decay underneath, removing sound fillings just out of mercury concern is not always recommended. The risk of mercury vapor that will be released during removal and extra substance loss from the tooth should be considered. However, if there are aesthetic reasons or deformation, replacement can be done under special safety precautions (rubber dam, high vacuum).
- Does the filling fall out? It is quite difficult for fillings made with modern adhesive systems to fall out spontaneously. Falls usually occur due to secondary caries under the filling, sudden traumas to the tooth, or isolation error (saliva contact during the procedure).
- How long does the filling procedure take? While a simple single-surface Dental Filling takes an average of 20-30 minutes, multi-surface restorations or porcelain inlay impression sessions may take longer.
Dental fillings are one of the most basic and effective preventive treatments for the continuity of oral health. Thanks to developing material science, we are no longer condemned to the cold appearance of metal. Composite and porcelain systems offer patients both aesthetic and functional solutions by combining naturalness and durability. In your search for a Kırklareli Dental Clinic, the material knowledge and clinical experience of the physician who will apply the treatment is the most critical factor determining the life of the restoration. Detecting caries at the initial stage with regular check-ups without waiting to feel pain or ache allows you to save your teeth with simpler and more economical filling procedures. Remember, even the best filling material cannot fully replace your own natural tooth tissue; therefore, priority is always preventive dentistry and correct oral care.
