Fillings & Root Canal Fillings
Fillings and Root Canal Fillings are used if a tooth has been damaged by decay or is worn or broken. There are different types of fillings available at One Dental Practice.
Amalgam Fillings
Amalgam fillings are the least expensive option. Amalgam has the benefit of being very strong and long-lasting and the dentist can complete the work in one appointment. Being made from metals the amalgam filling is the least cosmetic as it does not match the colour of your teeth.
Composite Resin Fillings
Composite resin fillings are made from plastic and glass particles. The colour of the resin use for the filling is carefully chosen by the dentist so that it matches the tooth it is being bonded to. This means that the filling cannot be seen making it a more cosmetic option. Composite resin fillings actually bond to teeth so it is not necessary to create a space as it would be with an amalgam filling. Because the filling bonds directly the structure of the tooth is strengthened although an amalgam filling is more durable with chewing. Composite resin fillings take slightly longer to complete as they have to be applied in layers which must be cured using a visible blue light. When a layer has cured the next one can be applied until the tooth is restored.
Glass Ionomer Fillings
Glass ionomer is made from acrylic and fluoroaluminosilicate and is generally used for fixing gold inlays but it is also used for fillings in the front teeth. Although not as effective as composite resin glass ionomer offers a good colour match to teeth and occasionally requires no drilling which makes it ideal for children. Glass ionomers also bond to the teeth and like composite resin fillings are applied in layers although they are not as strong. Useful for reducing any further tooth decay the glass ionomer releases flouride.
Root Canal Fillings
Root Canals
Root canal treatment which is also known as endodontics is used when the centre of a tooth is infected in one or more of its canals. Below the crown of a tooth is the softer part called dental pulp and this goes down to the end of the root. The pulp is soft tissue with nerves and blood vessels and when infected it starts to die allowing the bacteria to multiply. The bacteria then spreads along the root canal causing inflammation in the tissue which may cause pain and facial swelling more commonly known as a dental abscess. To treat the infected tooth it may be necessary to perform a dental extraction but it is preferable to save the tooth by drilling through to the root canal and taking away the dead tissue. The empty root canal or canals are cleaned and filled then the tooth is sealed using a filling or a crown.