Details about regular dental fillings and what are their advantages?

Standard Dental Filling, Dental filling technology is one of the most common techniques resorted to by many doctors and patients lately due to its effectiveness in solving various dental and oral problems. Given its importance and the demand for it by many people, we will discuss it in detail in this article, including the differences between it and nerve fillings in terms of uses, filling methods, materials used in both, and more information relevant to many patients.

Standard Dental Filling

Standard dental filling is one of the most famous methods that treat tooth decay cavities or cracks and fractures occurring in their structure. This technique is based on the idea of creating a filling made of chemical materials that can replace the bacterial accumulation in the cavity to protect it from bacteria again or from becoming brittle and easily broken at any time.

Usually, standard fillings are a treatment for medical conditions where the damage has not reached the nerves. It is common for filling materials to be made from cosmetic substances that carry many qualities and properties that improve the tooth’s appearance, but there are other advantages to these materials including strength and durability to increase their ability to withstand pressures and changes occurring in the mouth. The most famous materials used in fillings are porcelain, composite, or a mixture of glass ionomer and metals. Get an effective and immediate solution for tooth decay problems with our professional team and distinguished dental filling services at The Dental Center.

What is the Difference Between Nerve Filling and Standard Filling?

Fillings can fill the void resulting from removing tooth decay from the cavity or removing the nerve from its nerve end in the root depth. Therefore, two different terms appeared: nerve filling and standard filling. The difference between them can be clarified in that nerve filling treats damage to the tooth pulp unlike standard filling, which only deals with damage in its surface cavity. We conclude that nerve filling treats inflammation reaching the tooth roots, whereas standard filling treats infections in the enamel and dentin surface layers of the teeth.

When is Nerve Filling and When is Standard Filling Performed?

Teeth are one of the most sensitive areas in the body, thus requiring special care and attention. Due to their exposure to various pressures and changes from eating different foods and drinks and exposure to dust and hot and cold air, it’s likely that they encounter various problems and diseases often. We will clarify in detail the medical conditions that require treatment with fillings, whether standard or nerve, in the following points:

• Medical Conditions that Require Standard Filling

1. Teeth that have changed color to yellow or gray.
2. Teeth suffering from pigment stains on their surface like white spots.
3. Partially cracked or broken teeth.
4. Feeling pain in the affected tooth.

• Medical Conditions that Require Nerve Filling

1. Persistent and annoying pain that does not disappear with painkillers.
2. Cases of gum color change to dark gray.
3. Signs of inflammation on the tooth.
4. Swelling and inflammation of the gums.
5. Breaking part of the tooth structure.

Method of Nerve Filling and Standard Filling

Nerve filling and standard filling are similar techniques with no significant difference in their application or uses. We can clarify the necessary steps to implement each of them in the following points:

• Steps for Nerve Filling Installation

1. Examining the tooth roots using X-rays.
2. Administering local anesthesia, general anesthesia, or some sedatives that can help with relaxation, with the choice depending on the doctor who decides based on the nature of the case.
3. Placing an insulating material for the affected area.
4. Using a drill to open the cavity of the affected tooth.
5. Removing the decay material from the tooth cavity and then reaching the nerve to dispose of it using somewhat advanced special devices.
6. Installing a temporary filling in the depth of the nerve endings of the affected tooth.
7. Then, in another session, the permanent filling is installed in the pulp of the affected tooth and ensuring its suitability for the cavity shape, size, and measurement, and checking that there are no excess or insufficient amounts of it in the cavity.
8. Installing a crown or cap on top of the tooth to protect it from breaking.

• Steps for Standard Filling Installation

1. Medical examination of the patient’s teeth and resorting to X-rays to clarify the situation in detail in the mouth to determine the necessary procedures for installing the filling.
2. Anesthetizing the patient, drilling the cavity, removing the decay, and sterilizing it.
3. Installing the temporary filling or starting the procedures for installing the permanent filling according to the same shape of the cavity and ensuring all its gaps are filled, then installing a crown to protect it from falling or cracking.

What is the Difference Between the Materials Used in Nerve Filling and Standard Filling?

As mentioned, the essential difference between nerve filling and standard filling and their installation methods in the previous points, we will mention the materials used in each of them separately to complete the comparative picture between them in the following points:

• Materials for Nerve Filling

1. Gutta-percha is a rubbery material that is added before installing the permanent filling.
2. Various filling materials that vary between metals, porcelain, glass fillings, laser fillings, and composite fillings.
3. Materials for making the crown, which vary between zirconia, alumina, silica, ceramics, or metals.

• Materials for Standard Filling: These fillings only use materials involved in their making, such as porcelain, silver, or gold, and cosmetic fillings commonly do not require the installation of a crown due to their strength and ability to withstand pressures. To learn more about filling tools, click here.

Locations for Nerve Filling and Standard Filling

We explained at the beginning of the article that nerve filling is a treatment for problems of the roots and nerve endings of damaged teeth, so the nerve filling is placed in the root canal of the damaged tooth or the place of abscess and bacterial accumulation because it works on treating damaged nerve canals and then sealing its cavities. Whereas, standard filling works on filling the void of the damaged tooth cavity or filling the cracks and fractures in the tooth structure and sealing its breakage place. We recognize the importance of healthy teeth in boosting your self-confidence, rely on dental fillings at The Dental Center to achieve this goal.

Duration of a Nerve Filling and Standard Filling Session

Filling sessions, in general, are not long because the filling steps are not many and not complicated, so we notice that a nerve filling session ranges between 30 and 45 minutes, which are sufficient minutes to clean the root, remove the nerve, and replace it with the filling. The same situation applies to standard filling, whose session does not exceed 30 minutes to clean the cavity and replace it with the filling. Standard fillings are characterized by their ability to heal with the tissues surrounding the tooth cavity within a short period.

How Many Sessions for Nerve Filling and Standard Filling?

Due to the simplicity of the steps mentioned at the beginning of the article to implement the full procedures for both

types of filling, we notice that the number of sessions required for standard filling does not exceed 2 because the filling quickly adapts and bonds with the tissues of the tooth cavity, and its results appear within several days where the tooth can chew food well and withstand the pressures of friction when speaking. However, the number of sessions for nerve filling can range between two to three sessions and can reach four if a crown needs to be installed.

Tips After Nerve Filling and Standard Filling

The success of nerve filling does not only depend on the implementation of the installation steps but also on the extent of adherence to the medical instructions following it and the extent of their correct application. The difference between the instructions for each type can be clarified in the following points:

• Tips After Nerve Filling

1. Eat easy-to-swallow food that does not require chewing.
2. Avoid any food within the 24 hours following the nerve filling process, but it is possible to only drink water half an hour after the procedure.
3. Adhere to the steps of cleaning and brushing the teeth daily.
4. Consistently take the medications prescribed by the doctor at their scheduled times.

• Tips After Standard Filling

1. Avoid hard foods so as not to cause pressure on the teeth.
2. Reduce sticky foods so they do not stick to the filling and cause it to fall from its place in the cavity.
3. Ensure to stick to soups, water, and liquids in the days following the filling.
4. Avoid any foods that require chewing and stick to soft, tender, easy-to-swallow foods.
5. Limit the use of sugars and acids.

Is Nerve Filling Painful?

No, because nerve filling is performed under anesthesia, the patient does not feel any pain or discomfort, but it is possible to start feeling some pain signs after its effect wears off for 3 or 5 days after the filling. It is easy to control this pain by maintaining teeth cleaning and adhering to the schedule of painkillers prescribed by the doctor. A pain-free experience is what we offer at The Dental Center after filling procedures, where we aim to provide a comprehensive solution that includes comfort and effective relief from tooth pain.

What are the Risks of Leaving a Tooth Without Filling for a Long Time?

Dental filling or nerve filling protects the patient from many complications and risks that may appear in case of leaving the tooth without filling, which include the aggravation of decay reaching an advanced stage requiring many treatment procedures that are not easy at all, or breaking the tooth and forming an abscess, showing signs of sensitivity, gum inflammation, or swelling and changing its color.

How Do I Take Care of My Teeth and Protect Them from Decay and Whiten Them?

It is easy to maintain teeth from decay and achieve their bright white color if committed to brushing them with suitable toothpaste and a toothbrush twice daily, morning and evening, in addition to resorting to dental floss or a toothpick to remove any food residues stuck between their spaces, quitting smoking, and reducing stimulants, most notably tea and coffee.

Different Types of Fillings for Treating Tooth Decay

Tooth decay is a common dental disease but is easily treatable, and fillings were the technologies that proved their high effectiveness in treating it. The technological advancement in recent times has helped continuously develop fillings and discover their different types, which can be mentioned in the following points:

• Platinum fillings.
• Cosmetic or composite fillings.
• Glass fillings.
• Porcelain or ceramic fillings.
• Gold fillings.

Toothache After Filling

It is common after securing the filling in the cavity for it to expand to adapt to the place and fill all its gaps and adhere to the surrounding tissues. This expansion is the main cause of pain, in addition to the fact that heat and cold can also affect it and cause its expansion and contraction. Hence the feeling of discomfort also comes. But any pain or discomfort disappears within days after taking medication.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Regular Tooth Filling

Regular tooth filling is one of the most advanced and fastest solution techniques for various dental problems. It works to repair damage to teeth, improving the overall tooth shape and positively affecting the appearance of teeth and overall appearance, in addition to restoring the tooth’s ability to perform its functional tasks of eating or speaking properly. Its most important advantages are the disappearance of pain as soon as it is installed and treatment is received.

The disadvantages of regular fillings can be the re-emergence of tooth decay as published in many recent scientific studies by specialists. And some disadvantages may appear for each type of filling, as there are some fillings that are weak and easily broken, leading to other complications, or fillings that do not match the natural tooth color, or fillings that require removing part of the tooth cavity in order to fix them, which further weakens the tooth.

Best Medical Center for Dental Care and Aesthetics

The Dental Center is one of the best centers offering various filling services for all age groups. The center always strives to offer discounts on them, so you can visit the official website to contact the customer service team and inquire about them. A team of skilled doctors oversees these therapeutic techniques and are trained on how to apply them using the most advanced laser devices. The center provides the latest sterilization methods and infection control provided by international institutions.