Why is a temporary filling placed and what is its service life?

Modern dental technologies make it possible to save a tooth even if it is severely damaged. For advanced caries and the complications that often accompany it, treatment is carried out in stages. First, medicine is placed into the canals, and only after some time the tooth is filled permanently. This explains why a temporary filling is placed. Depending on the clinical picture, the period of its use may vary.

Temporary filling: what is it and what is it for?

If urgent treatment is not possible, temporary filling material is placed. It does not have sufficient strength, so it is not suitable for permanent filling. But it allows you to close the tooth cavity for a certain period.

A temporary filling is placed in the treatment of pulpitis and periodontitis after cleaning the canal. It is also needed for diagnostics, when it is necessary to determine the nature of the inflammatory process and check how deep the damage is. Why is such material used for prosthetics and indirect restoration? It will protect the prepared tooth until the permanent structures are ready.

This is an excellent technique when you need to delay treatment. It also acts as a kind of insurance for the doctor, as it allows you to monitor the effect of treatment and prevent the occurrence of complications. Why do they put a temporary filling after the medicine? It will prevent the drug from seeping into the oral cavity. This method is used when devitalizing paste is applied or root canals are filled with medicinal pastes. After some time, you can clean the canal and fill the tooth.

Online consultation with a doctor about possible complications of self-medication

If your permanent or temporary filling has fallen out, or a piece of a tooth has broken off, you should not waste time or try to cover the defect yourself with something. It is best to undergo an examination and consultation with a dentist. Because no available means can replace a dental filling or perform proper sanitation. A professional assessment of the condition of the tooth is necessary. Otherwise, complications may occur, infection of the wounded area, and inflammation of the nerve. Which will lead to more complex and expensive treatment:

treatment of pulpitis;
restoration with inlay;
removal of a tooth;
dental implantation;
prosthetics.

Types of temporary fillings

Such fillings are made from environmentally friendly materials and therefore do not have a toxic effect on the body. They are flexible, easy to install, and harden quickly. Apply evenly. The following types of temporary fillings are often used in dentistry:

Artificial dentin. The drug consists of zinc oxide, kaolin, dehydrated zinc sulfate. The substance is paste-like, which is achieved by adding water. It hardens in just 3 minutes. Often used to determine the shade of a permanent restoration - before a crown
.
Dentin pastes. The composition
of the product is the same as the previous drug. The difference is that it is mixed with essential oils. The hardening time is longer, but its strength is also better.
Karyosan. Used for filling canals.
Zinc-evengel cement. Suitable for cases where the dental nerve is inflamed. Used as a local anesthetic.
Polycarboxylate cement has been used in dentistry for a long time. This material hardens quickly.
Vinoxol. Used when long-term treatment is expected.

Such compositions differ from materials that are used for permanent fillings. In the future, they must be changed.

Intermediate filling materials

A paste based on zinc sulfate and kaolin allows you to restore the crown of the tooth.
Karyosan has an analgesic and antiseptic effect.
Vinoxol is an artificial dentin. Withstands chewing load for up to 1-2 months.
Cement with zinc and eugenol. It is used for antiseptic treatment of tooth tissue and relief of the inflammatory process.
Glass ionomer cement is used for temporary fixation of the prosthesis.
One-component polymer materials are pastes with a viscous consistency that harden under the light of a special lamp.

Filling using temporary materials

More often, such compositions are used after therapeutic and endodontic treatment. In most cases, they are preceded by x-ray diagnostics, which makes it possible to determine the type of damage and the extent of inflammation. Local anesthesia allows you to prepare, clean the carious cavity, remove the pulp and clean the canals without pain. To install a temporary filling, perform the following steps:

treat the oral cavity with antiseptic agents;
lay a medical pad - when required by the treatment protocol;
filling material is placed on the tooth.

In acute periodontal disease, all actions are performed 2–3 times, so temporary compounds are used to fill the canals repeatedly. It's easy to remove them. To do this, the dentist will need a drill and hand tools.

Why use it - indications for use

Dentists install temporary filling compounds for:

Advanced caries. If the cavity is very deep, after it has been cleansed of the affected tissue, a medicinal solution is applied to make the layer between the open area of the crown and the dentin as strong as possible.
Progressive acute pulpitis. Requires depulpation. For this purpose, a medicine is placed into the “hole” that destroys the nerve. It is covered with a protective insulating compound, which will be replaced in the future.
Periodontitis. With this disease, progressive inflammation in the root area is observed. To stop it, the dentist puts an antiseptic medicine inside the canals. To securely fix it, a hardening gel is placed on top.

Complicated carious process. Sometimes dentists are faced with a non-standard course of a diagnosed disease. Then, in order to select an effective treatment, they decide to observe the dynamics. In this case, there is no point in installing a permanent element - it will most likely have to be removed soon. Therefore, preference is given to the temporary.
Manufacturing of dental crowns and bridges. After impressions are taken, it is important to protect the sawn parts of the unit. To do this, use a temporary filling or crown.

Sometimes non-permanent filling is used during the sanitation of dental canals. This is necessary to prevent recurrence of the treated disease. The specialist thoroughly cleans all intradental areas, then applies an antiseptic and closes it on top for a certain period of time. During repeated appointments, he uses permanent hardening mixtures.

Wearing period

By determining how long a temporary filling material is placed, we can talk about its service life and the maximum possible wear without damage to the teeth. In each case, the doctor selects the most suitable composition, which has its own strength. In addition to the properties of the material, the quality of hygiene affects the service life. But if you are interested in how long it takes to walk with such a filling, you can focus on the following data:

1–7 days - for pulpitis, advanced caries;
1–3 weeks - when eliminating inflammation in the root canals;
up to 3 months - when you need to treat a cyst, granuloma.

Based on the clinical picture and the manipulations performed, the doctor will determine the exact period of the temporary filling.

Preparing the canal for filling

Careful removal of tissue affected by caries. They are distinguished by their softness and color change. But, with thorough cleaning, healthy tissue is inevitably slightly affected, so more often the procedure is performed under local anesthesia.
Pulp removal. This operation is mandatory, since it is this operation (or rather, the nerve located in it) that causes severe throbbing pain during pulpitis.
Cleaning the root canals and determining their depth and shape.
Mechanical treatment of root canals. It is very important that after filling the canal there is not a single piece of infected tissue left or just an empty space where bacteria will immediately begin to develop. To do this, using tools, the root canals are slightly expanded and leveled.
Removal of microflora. To completely remove bacteria, immediately before filling, the root canals are washed with antiseptic solutions. Most often, drugs based on sodium hydrochloride and dexamethasone are used for this, and in advanced cases, metronidazole is used. It is necessary to achieve complete disinfection, so washing is carried out an unlimited number of times - as many times as necessary.

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What to do if a filling falls out

If the filling material falls out earlier, you should contact your doctor. In this case, there are two options for his action: either he will install a permanent filling, or he will again install a temporary one. Before visiting the doctor, you need to rinse your mouth with soda solution, mouthwash, and carefully follow the rules of hygiene.

The main thing is not to walk around with open channels, because why do they do it?

temporary fillings then? A depressurized carious cavity threatens the development of inflammation and complications.

What to do if there is a hole in your tooth?

Some manipulations will help you wait for a visit to the doctor without complications:

First of all, it is important to prevent the accumulation of food debris and plaque inside the tooth. The danger is that bacteria developing in dental plaque release acids that are destructive to teeth.
If your tooth hurts, you can take a painkiller.
It would be a good idea to rinse with a warm soda solution.
It is better to limit chewing on the painful side so as not to provoke an attack of pain.
There is no need to cover the cavity with cotton wool, plasticine and other improvised means. This can cause complications and the development of infection.

Rules of care

Compliance with the hygienist’s recommendations for temporary filling is one of the main conditions for effective therapy. You should brush your teeth twice a day and rinse them after eating. It is worth using a soft toothbrush. The use of whitening or abrasive toothpastes is not recommended.

Before permanent filling or restoration, it is better to avoid nuts, crackers, toffees and other products that place increased stress on such compounds. For several days after the filling is placed, it is better not to use coloring products, as they can change the color of the material. It is important to follow your doctor's recommendations. For example, during an inflammatory process, he may prescribe rinsing with antibacterial drugs.

How long can you walk with such protection?

Compliance with the terms of wearing is a guarantee that nothing will happen to the tooth. If time is missed, the medicine placed inside the unit will begin to destroy its walls. It will also become leaky, which means that pathogenic microorganisms will begin to actively multiply in the resulting microgaps.

The exact wearing period depends on the characteristics of the material used and the dental diagnosis. The doctor calls him. If we are talking about a paste that destroys nerve tissue, then it is removed after 5-10 days. It happens that you have to repeat the procedure several times, but there is nothing to worry about. If the composition is placed inside the unit to stimulate regeneration processes, then therapy takes about two to three weeks.

How long does a temporary filling last and how is it removed?

The estimated service life of a temporary filling is 3-7 days (in rare cases, when using Vinoxol - 4-6 months). As practice shows, it can last on its own for 2 weeks or even a month, but such periods can have a detrimental effect on the effectiveness of treatment of a dental problem and even harm the teeth, so doctors independently remove the filling at the appointed time.

Removal is carried out by a doctor in a dental office; the removal technique directly depends on the type of material installed. For example, artificial dentin has a fairly low density - this allows removal using a medical spatula and curettes. To remove fillings made of high-strength materials, a drill can be used.

Note! In the first hours after the installation of a temporary filling, painful sensations may occur - this is due to injury to the dental and gum tissues during manipulation. If the pain does not go away within 24 hours, consult a doctor!

Probably many people have had to deal with temporary fillings more than once. Treatment of caries, pulpitis, periodontitis, as well as prosthetics is rarely complete without the use of a filling procedure. Using a filling, the structure of the dental tissue is restored, as well as the appearance and all functions of the tooth. However, usually during treatment, many dentists use two types of fillings - temporary and permanent . While permanent is usually used for long-term bone replacement, temporary is used only for short-term cavity protection. It usually contains inexpensive materials that can be easily cleaned later.

Why do they put a temporary filling?

Why a temporary filling and why can’t you immediately put a permanent one? This is a special design that is placed during the treatment of deep caries, pulpitis, as well as inflammatory processes in the root canals. It serves as a kind of barrier that prevents the medical pad from falling out or bacteria from entering the open cavity after cleaning the canals.

The main indications for installing a temporary filling are:

the need for a diagnostic examination;
treatment of caries that has resulted in serious destruction of dental tissues, or pulpitis;
for thorough cleaning of the carious cavity (in especially rare cases);
for the purpose of manufacturing a stump inlay and installing a permanent filling in the future;
if urgent treatment is impossible for some reason and it is necessary to postpone the procedure for some time.

Temporary and permanent fillings - what's the difference?

The main difference lies in the name itself - a temporary filling is installed for a short limited period of time, while the service life of a permanent filling is on average 5 years. They also differ in materials. If for a permanent structure they resort to reliable compounds that, after hardening, become durable and wear-resistant, then in the case of temporary solutions it all depends on the specific situation. This may be a filling with a drug, arsenic to kill the pulp, or from a material that hardens quickly, but is not particularly strong.

It should be understood that a temporary filling is not a way to save money, but a forced necessity. In what cases it is installed, we have already found out. It is logical that permanent fillings are an order of magnitude more expensive than their temporary counterparts, and the point here is in specific tasks - restoring the aesthetics and functional component of the tooth. The choice of a certain type of temporary filling is made by the doctor, based on the existing clinical picture. The material of the permanent filling can be chosen by the patient himself, taking into account his problem and financial situation.

Types of temporary filling depending on the material

The material used to install a temporary filling is non-toxic, environmentally friendly and does not pose any danger to the body. At the same time, it is quite plastic, can occupy any volume, and has the property of rapid drying.

Depending on the practical application, a temporary filling may contain different compositions, in particular:

Artificial dentin. It is the most common substance for making temporary fillings. It contains zinc oxide and kaolin. For quick hardening (up to 3 minutes) mix with a small amount of water.
Dentin pastes. Slightly increased hardening time of the substance due to the fact that essential oils are used instead of water (as in the case of artificial dentin).
If there is a need for temporary filling of dental canals, a mixture of Karyosan is used.
to relieve pain and relieve inflammation.

How long can you walk with a temporary filling?

From the name itself it follows that such a design has a limited wearing period. So, if you spend too much time wearing such a filling, it will not only be of no benefit, but can even cause harm. So how long is it usually set? In fact, it all depends on the type and purpose. For example, in order to kill the pulp, such a structure is fixed for 1-2 weeks. As for temporary filling before prosthetics, you will have to wait until the permanent product is ready. But again, no more than a month.

Important rules to remember when installing a temporary filling

Whatever the problem with the tooth, it is worth remembering that a temporary filling is not the solution. It only temporarily replaces permanent filling. The doctor uses it only to identify the main cause that caused pain, caries and other pathological disorders. Therefore, you should not use this material for long-term use. Sooner or later it will collapse and the cavity will open again. Needless to say, what harmful substances can get there along with food and saliva? As a result, you can completely lose a healthy tooth. Therefore, you must strictly adhere to the important recommendations of your doctor.

In addition, after installation, you should follow several important oral care tips:

1.After installation, do not forget about thoroughly brushing your teeth and rinsing your mouth;

2.Since fairly hard materials are used for temporary fillings, regular toothbrushes can be used for cleaning. Their bristles will not harm the material;

3.The main thing when cleaning is not to be too zealous, it is better to do everything neatly and carefully;

4.Don't overeat too solid foods. Nuts, crackers, and bones can cause serious harm to the temporary filling, so it is better to avoid eating this food during the period of its installation.

All modern materials used for the manufacture of temporary fillings have antiseptic properties, that is, they disinfect the treated cavity in the tooth. The choice of a specific material for creating a non-permanent structure is made by the doctor based on the clinical situation he had to face.

How does the replacement work?

When the medicine under the protective “barrier” stops working, a permanent filling is installed. Using a drill, the doctor removes the remaining temporary material. Then it carries out antiseptic treatment of the opened tissues. Makes sure there are no complications and then places the permanent material.

All manipulations are carried out in one visit to the doctor. They are usually comfortable and do not require the use of painkillers - after all, the inflammation has already been cured and the nerve has been removed.

Let's take a closer look.

Endodontic treatment, or root canal treatment , is a long-term procedure that involves removing non-viable nerves and pulp from the tooth. This treatment method is indispensable in dentistry and can significantly extend the life of the tooth in diseases such as pulpitis, periodontitis, etc.

For endodontic treatment, our clinic uses a dental microscope, which allows us to greatly enlarge the canals of the tooth and not treat blindly.

How does the installation work?

Since the composition is intermediate and is laid down for a specific purpose, it is logical that its use is preceded by certain preparatory manipulations:

The doctor cleans the affected area using a drill and medical instruments. He carefully removes the remnants of altered tissue to prevent further destruction of the crown.
Then it processes the channels. There are two options here - either the nerve is removed immediately, followed by washing the roots with an antiseptic, or a medicinal mixture is applied.
A filling is placed on top, which will soon be replaced.
Before letting the patient go, the dentist tells you how to care for the tooth , when to come next time, and what to do if the mixture falls out prematurely.