Many patients do not know that they can put fillings on their front teeth. Its goal is not only to eliminate defects, but also to restore anatomical, physiological and aesthetic properties.
The procedure is quite popular. In order for the result to please the patient, it is necessary to choose a competent specialist with extensive experience. A professional will select the necessary material individually for each type of teeth and install the product so that it will not be noticeable in the smile area.
Installing a temporary filling
A filling between the front teeth is often placed due to carious lesions. For several days, it protects healthy tissues and nerve endings from external influences.
After a session of cleaning the canals and removing the nerve, the structure is replaced with a permanent one.
Life time
temporary product depends on the need for installation. As a rule, it is worn for no more than one month. Lasts about three days if arsenic is present.
When treating pulpitis or advanced stages of caries, the reaction of the unit is checked. Antibiotics are applied under the material. In this case, you need to walk for at least three weeks. The installation method is identical.
The following can be used as the main material:
- polycarboxylate cement,
- dentine,
- vinoxol,
- karyosan,
- softened paste
Pastes for filling
In order to fill dental canals, different pastes are often used. They are used to seal voids in the tooth cavity after the pulp has been removed. Today the most popular pastes are:
- formalin paste Resorcinol;
- Forfenan paste;
- Endamethozon paste.
But all pastes are very difficult to unfill if you need to re-treat the tooth. In addition, the material may be distributed unevenly; when the channel is filled, air gaps may occur. But regardless of this, such pastes are used very often for filling.
Replacing a filling
Sometimes it becomes necessary to change fillings on the front teeth. Replacement is due if it is fixed:
- Violation of the integrity of the closure of the carious cavity. This process provokes infection.
- Vertical or horizontal shrinkage of material.
- Heavy load due to chewing. Because of this, destruction occurs.
- The development of periodontal tissue diseases - gingivitis, periodontitis.
- Overhang of the edges on the gum.
- Wear due to flat occlusal surface.
- Change in the shade of an artificial tooth (usually darkening).
- Poor quality of oral hygiene.
- Diastema of the frontal units.
- Changing the inclination.
- Insufficient cleaning of dental plaque in the area adjacent to adjacent molars.
Should I turn to free healthcare?
The filling is installed not only in private clinics, but also in public clinics. In such institutions you can get a filling at a very low price or completely free of charge. However, the quality of such restoration leaves much to be desired. This is due to several factors:
- Government institutions save as much as possible on everything. For this reason, a minimum number of tools and consumables will be used during the installation of the filling.
- Fillings in free institutions are of the lowest quality. Accordingly, the result and service life are minimal.
- There may be very painful sensations, since low-quality anesthetics are used during the work.
Restoration of anterior teeth using filling material is a budget-friendly way to restore aesthetics and chewing function. Contact only trusted doctors so as not to be disappointed with the result.
Painfulness of the procedure
Most people are afraid of the procedure precisely because of toothache, but modern technology and the use of anesthesia eliminate this ailment.
The session is completely painless. To reduce the likelihood of discomfort, all manipulations are carried out after the administration of an anesthetic. If there is no nerve, the procedure is performed without anesthesia. The patient may feel slight pressure on the gum.
An exception is intolerance to certain medications used for anesthesia. The choice is made in favor of a similar drug with a different active substance.
After the injection, no painful sensations are observed.
It hurts if there is a strong inflammatory process at the root apex and in the canals. Unpleasant sensations occur only when the drug gets into the periodontal tissues. They go away instantly after increasing the dosage of the painkiller.
Some pain is possible if there is a deep stage of carious lesions, depulpation or canal treatment is performed, or sensitivity is increased.
Is it painful to have a filling?
Many readers remember very well from their own bitter experience how toothache was treated in Soviet times. Modern medicine has made giant leaps forward. So, knowing how teeth are filled now, we are no longer so afraid of going to the dentist. This is why the number of people suffering from toothache who are terrified of sitting in the doctor’s chair has been rapidly decreasing in recent years.
Nowadays, a patient in a good clinic is not even faced with the choice of treating a diseased tooth without or with anesthesia, and the choice of anesthetics is so wide that even an allergy sufferer will not have to suffer from pain. A couple of injections into the gums, and for quite a long time the patient does not experience any pain, and a slight sensitivity after filling, which usually goes away within a maximum of two days, can be relieved by modern painkillers or traditional medicine.
Installation on the front teeth
The procedure takes from half an hour to an hour and a half, depending on the complexity of the problem.
The stages of setting up the frontal units are as follows:
- Carrying out professional oral hygiene. The hygienist cleans the molars and interdental space from plaque.
- Determination of tone.
- Introduction of anesthesia. The anesthetic is selected taking into account the patient's tolerance to the active substance. The injection is given in the gum area.
- Removal of caries. If the pathology affects only the superficial layers, then the disease is eliminated by grinding.
- Removal of the inflamed area of the pulp.
- Preparing the plane. The dentist treats the surface with a drill.
- Acid and adhesive treatment of dentin and enamel for better adhesion.
- Treatment with an antiseptic solution. This point is important in order to reduce the risk of microbial development.
- Application of material. It hardens quickly, so it is important to “shrink” it immediately with a special tool.
- Bite check. To do this, the doctor asks the patient to bite down on a plate of dye. When a certain area of this element is painted, a violation is considered.
Performing grinding and polishing of the artificial surface for proper bite and ideal smoothness.
When restoring the anterior dentition, diastema closure is often performed. This is possible if the spaces between the central molars are small. More material is applied to the incisors to increase their width. Thus, the distance between them disappears.
Possible complications
Dental treatment, like any other medical intervention, can lead to complications.
Typically patients face the following problems:
- Dental treatment, like any other medical intervention, can lead to complications
infection of the opened cavity, which leads to the spread of pathogenic microflora under the filling and its loss ahead of time;
- penetration of infection into the root area, which is fraught with granuloma, cyst with subsequent loss of the masticatory organ;
- malocclusion due to improper grinding in the clinic;
- penetration of toxic filling materials into the area of the dental nerve, followed by pulpitis or peridontitis if the dental filling technique is violated.
To avoid complications, you should contact a reputable clinic and take precautions after filling a molar.
Types of fillings for front teeth
The design on the frontal incisors must have such properties as resistance to abrasion and destruction, biocompatibility, thermal conductivity to protect against exposure to different temperatures, and matching the enamel in structure and shade.
There are several types of materials. They have their own characteristics:
- Cement silicophosphate
(zinc phosphate or polycarboxylate) material. Among the advantages, it is worth highlighting the low cost. However, there are many more disadvantages: Firstly, fixation and adherence to the walls is insufficient. Secondly, the color is noticeably different, since the cement quickly acquires a yellowish tint. Thirdly, the surface of the artificially created unit is poorly polished. - Composite
The structure, shape and color of a natural incisor are most clearly conveyed. It is characterized by increased strength. The downside is the risk of roughness if the material is not mixed well. - Plastic.
Its advantages include a tight fit, aesthetic component and mechanical strength of the material. The color palette is wide and you can easily choose a shade to match the color of your teeth. The negative aspects are that the plastic darkens and turns yellow, the surface gradually becomes rough, acrylic releases toxins and also shrinks.
When choosing, you need to know how long different types of fillings last. Cement is short-lived. Their service life does not exceed one and a half years. Plastic products last up to three years. Good composite fillings last up to five years.
The best filling materials (as of 2022)
In the dental world, the greatest authority in the assessment of restorative materials currently belongs to the American publication The Dental Advisor. For the last 12 years (from 2010 to 2022), the highest award in the “universal composites” category has been awarded to the Japanese filling material Estelite Sigma Quick. Selection criteria: percentage of inorganic filler, amount of shrinkage, correspondence of shades to the natural color of the tooth, ease of use, radiopacity, polishability. A survey of dentists showed that they switch to Estelite more often than to other filling materials. Clinical success of Estelite is 99%.2
Among aesthetic composites in 2015, 2016, 2022, according to the same publication, the filling material from Germany, Venus Pearl, took the highest position. Its clinical effectiveness is 91%.3 In 2021, it received the title of “preferred product”. It can also be used for chewing teeth.
In 2022 and 2022, first place in the category of aesthetic composites was taken by the Harmonize material of the American manufacturer Kerr Restorative.4
Other good quality filling materials should also be mentioned. These include those who received awards in 2016-2019: Omnichroma, Brilliant EverGlow, Admira Fusion, Filtek Supreme Plus and Filtek Supreme Ultra.
The best choice of fillings for front teeth
The filling must close the cavity and prevent infection of the canals. In the case of front teeth, the aesthetic aspect comes to the fore, so the material must have the appropriate properties.
The most durable fillings for damaged front teeth are light products
. They are made from a material that hardens under ultraviolet rays. The composition contains heliocomposite, glass-ceramic filler, and resin.
Durability of photopolymers
Photopolymers are characterized by increased strength. They can last up to 10 years. They are resistant to temperature, restore length and shape.
Reflective filling has many advantages
:
- Eating food and water is allowed immediately.
- Increased adhesive ability.
- Plastic. The material allows you to clean out any pores and cracks.
- Layer-by-layer application. Due to this, the grip is enhanced.
- The percentage of shrinkage is minimal compared to chemical analogues.
- Does not release toxins.
- Possibility of fixing in a small area.
- Possibility of choosing a color that is similar to enamel.
Minus
is high cost. As a result of the use of a UV lamp, the price does not allow the use of a light filling as a temporary structure.
Materials
In modern dentistry, a wide variety of materials are used for filling teeth. Since the purpose of filling is not only to close the hole in the tooth, but also to restore its physiological and anatomical functions, the material must be selected according to the load on the tooth and its location.
For example, in case of serious damage to the structure of the chewing tooth, polymers that can withstand heavy loads are used as a filling substance, and for the front teeth it is customary to use light-curing composites, since their properties help to match the color of the filling to the natural color. At the same time, silicophosphate or silicate cements are most often used for incisors.
The basic requirements for materials used to fill canals are as follows:
- complete sealing of root canals;
- absence of a chemical reaction that changes the color of the tooth;
- no shrinkage of the filling;
- easy removal from the dental cavity if repeated treatment is necessary;
- insolubility in the soft tissues of the tooth.
Gutta-percha meets most of the requirements from this list, but has one significant drawback, namely the complete inability of the material to block the vital activity of microorganisms in the sealed cavity. Glass ionomer cements, on the contrary, prevent this process. Not only are they particularly durable, but they are also fully compatible with dental tissues, release fluorides that help strengthen dentin, and do not shrink. When using this material, filling teeth has minimal consequences, however, it also has its drawback - increased acidity. In connection with this fact, a special calcium-based medical pad should be installed under such a filling.
There are other types of filling materials such as pastes, plastics and amalgam. Modern dentistry is trying to avoid the use of amalgam fillings, since they contain mercury, which is very harmful to the body; moreover, this material is not wear-resistant and very unreliable.
Yellowing of fillings on front teeth
Patients often experience discoloration of artificial units.
Causes
Common causes of pathology are:
- Getting injured.
- Secondary caries.
- Drinking black tea or coffee.
- Smoking.
Darkening is possible when the nerve is removed.
Correction methods
The first step is to carry out the whitening procedure. You can get rid of yellowing only with photopolymers. Only if the structure has lightened slightly does it need to be replaced.
Whitening methods
Photopolymers are bleached using the in-channel method. A special gel is injected into the root canal and a temporary structure is placed. After 2-3 procedures, the shade becomes lighter, and the structure is replaced with a permanent one.
Preparing for installation
When installing a light filling, the dentist uses an ultraviolet lamp
First, the dentist examines the patient’s dentition and identifies other defects. Next, the therapist examines the problematic front tooth.
If deep caries is suspected, a photograph is taken. In case of a confirmed complication, the molar is depulped and the canals are cleaned, followed by filling.
The procedure is necessarily accompanied by modern anesthesia.
In this case, treatment usually lasts for 2-3 visits to the dentist, because after treatment of the dental canal you need to wait for the root reaction.
If the patient does not feel any discomfort and the control image shows that the canals are sealed correctly, the doctor proceeds to install a permanent structure.
Lost filling on a front tooth
Causes
The reason for material loss may be:
- Neglect of oral hygiene and, as a result, plaque formation.
- Untimely removal of tartar.
- Inflammation of the pulp.
- Mechanical injuries.
- Chewing food with frontal incisors.
- Poor tooth preparation before the procedure.
- Eating seeds, nuts, etc.
- Excessive load on the front units. For example, opening lids, chewing threads, etc.
Elimination methods
With high-quality elimination of carious cavities, correction is carried out within a month. If the product was placed in the treatment of deep caries, then you should immediately contact the dentist to exclude an infectious process.
Treatment is prescribed depending on the cause of the loss. If there is repeated caries or loss of a pulpless tooth, re-installation does not make sense. The doctor suggests installing a pin or crown.
What to do if a piece of the filling breaks off
In this case, you should immediately visit a dentist
. The doctor will correct the problem in one visit if no spread of secondary caries is noticed.
If the chip occurs from the edge, then the restoration is carried out with the same material that was originally used. If a significant part has broken off, the doctor suggests changing the material or performing a complete restoration and extension.
How much does restoration cost?
The price of the procedure is calculated individually. Clients of the Dentika clinic are offered favorable conditions; it is very popular when the patient is told the total amount, including preparation, cost of materials and the work of a specialist. In this case, there will be no changes, which is quite valuable over a long period of cooperation. It is worth considering that the most inexpensive procedure is a composite restoration; the installation of lumineers is included in the list of the most expensive manipulations.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of aesthetic dental correction?
The advantages are obvious - restoration of the dentition in the absence of individual units, correction of visible defects, beauty of the smile. It is also worth considering that almost all restoration procedures do not cause pain to the patient. Minor discomfort is allowed for people with hypersensitivity. If the issue of time is of fundamental importance, then it is worth choosing restoration with ceramics or composite; it can be carried out in 1-2 procedures, in contrast to installing a crown.
Disadvantages include the lack of treatment. This is a purely cosmetic manipulation, so first basic preparation is required, restoration, if necessary, installation of a pin and extension, and only then, as the final stage, the appearance is corrected. Also, if the patient’s list of habits includes smoking, a passion for coffee and alcohol, and a craving for chewing hard pieces of food, for example, nuts, then the service life of any plate or composite coating will be short-lived.
The filling on the front teeth interferes after treatment
In some cases, the design on the frontal incisors prevents the mouth from closing completely; the roughness injures the tongue or the mucous membrane of the lips.
Causes
Trouble arises if sufficient grinding and grinding of the excess surface has not been carried out.
Much less commonly, the cause is an excess of applied material when correcting the interdental gap on the front teeth.
The rarest situation occurs when the wall between the filling and the pulp chamber is thinned. There is a feeling of discomfort that irritates the nerve.
Complications
Ignoring pathology can lead to unpleasant consequences. For example:
- The high position of the artificial structure causes a lot of pressure on the jaw. Pulpitis and periodontitis gradually develop.
- Increases the likelihood of chipping.
- Uneven closing of the jaw contributes to its dislocation and other diseases of the temporomandibular apparatus.
Treatment methods – from filling to implant
The dentist will select the treatment method for the front teeth after an examination.
- Veneers or Lumineers
If the incisors are severely damaged, thin overlays can be placed - veneers or lumineers. They will hide the consequences of caries and make teeth whiter and smoother.
- Dental crowns
If only the root remains of the front tooth, intra-root inlays are made; this is the basis for the crown. Metal crowns are not suitable for front teeth; they will be too noticeable. To make an artificial tooth as similar as possible to a real one, it is better to use ceramic and zirconium crowns.
- Bridges and implants
If desired, missing front teeth can be replaced by bridges and clasp dentures. If funds allow, you can install an implant and forget about the problem for many years.
Do you want beautiful dental restoration?
Always at your service - Sergey Samsakov, orthopedic dentist with more than 10 years of successful experience, Moscow. Expert in 3D digital smile modeling, dental inlays and dental modules, veneers and digital CEREC technology.
