Dental Fillings Health Article

Definition

Dental fillings are metal amalgams or composite resins used to fill a cavity.

Purpose

Dentists use dental fillings to restore teeth damaged by dental caries (tooth decay). Dental caries are caused by microorganisms that convert sugars in food to acids which erode the enamel of a tooth, creating a hole or cavity. The dentist cleans out the decayed part of the tooth and fills the opening with an artificial material (a filling) to protect the tooth's structure and restore the appearance and utility of the tooth.

Precautions

As in any dental procedure, the dentist and dental assistant will need to use sterile techniques. Gloves and masks are essential as well as the sterilization of equipment and tools. This not only helps prevent the spread of infectious diseases like AIDS and hepatitis, but also the common cold.

The patient's reaction to anesthesia is the other main concern of the dentist and dental assistant when performing dental fillings. Nitrous oxide should be avoided with pregnant patients, and local anesthetics should be used with caution, though they are considered safe. Local anesthetics like Novocain and lidocaine have been in practical use for decades with few side effects reported. Some patients, however, are allergic to these drugs.

Description

Though dentists are encountering fewer and smaller cavities in their patients, there is still a need for dentists to fill cavities. Old fillings suffer wear and need to be replaced. Patients are demanding more restorative work on their teeth, sometimes opting for full mouth restorations that involve installing crowns, bleaching teeth or applying veneers, and replacing dark metal fillings with tooth-colored ones that create a monochomatic view in a patient's mouth.

Once the decay is removed and the tooth is prepared (see Preparation), the dentist has a wide choice of dental filling materials to choose from.