What are the seals? Types of seals in dentistry

Not all patients of the dental clinic are wondering about what materials are available for tooth filling. But this factor directly affects how long the seal will last. In addition, the health of the tooth, as well as the level of complexity of the process of its treatment, depends on the kind of material. Today we will talk about how to choose the material for the seal. Types of seals, their advantages and disadvantages will also be discussed in this article.

General requirements for dental seals

First of all, let's define: what is a filling in dentistry? This is a medical material, characterized by its toughness and plasticity, which, over time or under the influence of external factors, solidifies in the cavity of the tooth.

There is a certain list of requirements for any type of fillings:

1. Security. The material must comply with the established hygienic norms.
2. Insolubility.
3. Persistence - the seal should not be erased or seated in volume.
4. Must harden in a short time.
5. The material can not change color, color.
6. Strength.

Types of materials for tooth filling

In modern dentistry, various materials are used for setting a dental seal. Each of them has both advantages and disadvantages. Some materials are offered in free state-run polyclinics, while others have a fairly high cost. So, what are the main types of fillings? At the moment there are three:

• Chemical;
• Photopolymeric;
• Temporary.

Each species includes subspecies, depending on the substances that make up the material for tooth filling.

Cement Seals

Such types of fillings for teeth are prepared, as a rule, from a powdery substance and a liquid acid. As a result of the mixing of the components, a chemical reaction occurs, during which a paste-like mixture is formed, which has the property of solidifying after a certain period of time.

Cement seals, in turn, are also subdivided into subgroups depending on the substances in the composition, namely:

• Zinc and phosphates;
• Silicates;
• Silicates and phosphates;
• Polycarbonate;
• Glass ionomers.

The first four subspecies of fillings are chemical. And the latter can harden under the influence of acid, and with the help of light waves.

Cement seals have such advantages:

1. Low cost.
2. Absence of necessity of application during filling of special devices.
3. Simplicity in the technique of the process of setting the material.

They have such seals and significant drawbacks:

• Quickly lose shape, volume;
• Need a long period of time for complete hardening;
• With time or under the influence of external factors easily crack, crumble;
• If the seizure process is improperly performed, a healthy tooth can be nailed;
• Does not protect against the re-emergence or spread of caries;
• Are toxic.

Such disadvantages are to a greater or lesser extent, all subspecies of cement fillings, except glass ionomers. This material is widely used in modern medicine, including in private clinics. Such a seal is not toxic. Contains fluoride inclusion, which protects the tooth from further spread of carious areas. In addition, the material not only physically fills the tooth space, but also enters with the enamel into a chemical reaction. Due to this process, the glass ionomer seal lasts a long time.

Metallic materials

What are the metal types of dental fillings? These are so-called amalgams - solutions based on metals that have the property of hardening. There are silver, gold and copper.

Metallic seals are very strong, they do not dissolve under the influence of saliva. Despite this, in modern dentistry such material is practically not used. What are the disadvantages? There are several of them:

• For the installation of such a seal, special professional equipment is needed, which is not in every clinic;
• Metal slowly freezes;
• The seal differs significantly from the natural color of the tooth;
• Possible development of caries;
• It is often recorded cases of itching, metallic taste in the mouth.

Plastic fillings

Seals used in modern dentistry? Types of seals exist different, so the doctor chooses those that will perform their function most effectively in a particular case. But plastic experts rarely recommend their patients to plastic materials. Although just a few years ago, this seal was an innovative alternative to metal. Why did not the plastic keep its high rating among the popular materials for installing dental seals?

The thing is that such a solution is quickly erased, shrinks in volume, changes color. In addition, often plastic seals cause in patients severe allergic reactions in the form of rashes, redness in the mouth. In addition, such materials are toxic.

Composites

Composites are a common type of fillings. They include both organic and inorganic substances. Cures the composite material under the influence of chemical processes, as well as with ultraviolet radiation.

The production of composites requires the specialist's knowledge of tooth preparation technology for this procedure. Since the quality and durability of the filling are significantly reduced when any processes are violated.

The undoubted advantage is the availability of a wide color palette of such materials, which allows performing the dental procedure for aesthetic purposes.

Light fillings

Often, thanks to advertising brochures, potential clients of the dental clinic get acquainted for the first time with such a concept as photopolymers. What is it really? All very simple - these are the same composites or glass ionomers, which are installed using a special UV lamp. Such types of seals in dentistry are used more often than others.

It is difficult to find a polyclinic in which such a service as photopolymerization is not offered. What are the advantages of such types of dental fillings?

1. Strength.
2. Plastic.
3. Aesthetics.
4. Easy to install.
5. Fast result.
6. Absence of toxic substances in the composition.

Using photopolymers, restoration of the front teeth is carried out. The properties of the material make it possible to "mold" the correct beautiful form, after which it is absolutely painless to fix the result with the help of ultraviolet radiation. Thus, in just one procedure, it is possible to perform the procedure on several teeth.

But here distant teeth in this way is difficult to seal - it is simply impossible to reach the necessary part of the oral cavity with the lamp.

Temporary materials

Often, a dentist needs to install temporary fillings for therapeutic purposes. Requirements for such material are low: it must close the hole in the tooth for a period of several days to a week, after which such a seal could easily be removed.

Temporary fillings crack and pour out, sit down, so they do not set for a long period.

Often in such materials add medicines. Therefore, there may be an unpleasant aftertaste or odor from the mouth.

Types of temporary seals are as follows:

• Diagnostic;
• Intended for therapeutic treatment;
• Fillings for prosthetics.

And what do teeth fill with children?

Many parents do not even think that a child, as well as an adult, needs a preventive examination of the dentist. What for to treat a teeth if all the same soon they will drop out? In fact, the health of the milk teeth directly depends on the state of the permanent. Therefore, it is necessary to fill the teeth with the children as soon as the indications to this procedure appear.

In this case it is important to choose safe materials. In children's dentistry they use fillings containing fluoride (to prevent further caries formation). It is much more convenient to use materials that harden under the influence of ultraviolet - in the treatment of children, they are most often used for such seals. Types of fillings, which are now very popular in children's dental practice, are represented by glass ionomers and composites.

Colored children's seals: what is it?

A novelty in dental practice has become multi-colored children's dental fillings. Types of such materials are determined by the manufacturer.

Bright, plasticine-like seals are of genuine interest, thereby reducing fear of the dentist in babies.

Such material is also characterized by high strength. In most cases, it is held by the children before the change of teeth. In addition, the color seal is well polished, it is plastic, and its installation takes a short time.

Which seals to choose? The types of seals required in each specific medical case should be recommended exclusively by a specialist. Since it is necessary to assess the situation professionally, various factors and determine what material is best for this particular patient.