Dental fillings or restorations are procedures that are done when the tooth gets decayed but the decay is just on the enamel or the dentin (i.e. the decay is still on the 2nd or second layer of the tooth and has not reached the nerve of the tooth

It is also done in the front tooth in case of minor tooth fracture.

Earlier silver (amalgam ) fillings were used to do fillings. But now with new and modern advances In dentistry silver fillings are rarely used. Now a days composite or tooth-coloured fillings is the choice of all dentists.

HOW IS A COMPOSITE FILLING DONE 

1ST STEP – the decay is removed.

2ND STEP – ACID ETCHING

After decay removal, the tooth is etched with 37% phosphoric acid . (acid etching creates minor irregularities or microporosities on the surface of the tooth. This helps the composite filling to adhere to the tooth structure) after etching the tooth is thoroughly rinsed with water and dried with air.

3RD STEP –BOND APPLICATION

 A bonding agent is applied to the tooth. This bonding agent will help the composite to bond to the tooth surface. This bonding agent is cured using an LED machine (a blue light of a certain blue wavelength.

4TH STEP – COMPOSITE FILLING

After bond application, the composite filling is taken in small increments and cured with LED increment by increment. The composite filling is initially in a dough form, after curing it becomes hard.

During these procedures, the tooth should be dry. It should not be contaminated with saliva or water. This is how a composite filling is done.

ADVANTAGES OF COMPOSITE FILLINGS OVER SILVER FILLINGS

• Composite filling bonds chemically to the tooth as silver fillings bond mechanically to the tooth ( silver filling is like a hole that is dug up and material is filled in it) purely mechanical.
• Since composite bonds chemically to tooth unnecessary tooth structure need not be removed, only the decayed portion has to be removed. Because silver fillings bond mechanically to the tooth a lot of sound tooth structure has to be removed just to create retention for the filling.
• Composite fillings have great esthetic value since they are tooth colored and are available in various shades.
• Since composite fillings are in the dough stage earlier it is easy to manipulate. So in the case of a fractured anterior tooth, the exact tooth anatomy can be reproduced.

PRECAUTIONS TO BE TAKEN

• In case of huge front teeth fillings, it is advisable not to bite anything very hard from the front tooth. Excessive biting pressure on a filled front tooth might lead to a fracture of the filling.
• After the filling is done the dentist will check if the filling is high (i.e if any high points are present) . But still, after the filling if you feel that the tooth is giving you pain on biting report it to the dentist. He will remove any minor stress points that are present.
• Also if you feel sensitivity after the composite filling visit your dentist immediately.
• If you notice that your filling have chipped off in a certain area of the tooth get it refilled immediately. If chipped filling is not refilled food will keep lodging in that fractured portion leading to decay.

CONCLUSION

The procedure of filling is painless , hassle-free , less time consuming and more economical . So visit your dentist every 6 months. if a filling is required get it done immediately before the decay spreads and tooth goes for a root canal treatment.