Dental Filling
Gold, Amalgam, Ceramic
Before introducing the various dental fillings, I would like
to clarify the dental cavity formation
process.
At first, the
susceptible tooth surface is revealed to the ingested food bolus. This leads to
the formation of biofilm and microbial deposits. The microbes during the food
fermentation process produce acid and alters the pH by releasing it. The change
of the pH causes the dynamic equilibrium of minerals to shift, triggering the dissolution
of minerals. Eventually, the dental caries initiate.
To elucidate this
process, I can simply define dental caries as a multifactorial microbial
disease of the calcified tissues of the teeth, characterized by
demineralization of the inorganic portion and destruction of the organic
substance of the tooth, leading to cavitation.
Now I will be
evaluating multiple dental fillings, identifying both their advantages and
disadvantages.
Gold fillings last at
least 10 to 15 years, as it doesn’t corrode. It can withstand the hard and
tough chewing forces. The gold may be aesthetically attracting. Unfortunately,
its cost is much more expensive than the silver and amalgam fillings. Also, if
the gold filling placed immediately next to a silver amalgam filling can cause
a galvanic shock; the interaction between the metals and saliva causes an electric
current to occur.
Silver fillings, which
are known as the amalgams, possess similar advantages as the gold fillings.
However, it could potentially cause the destruction of more tooth structure. In
other words, the healthy parts of the tooth must often be removed to make a
larger space. Also, the amalgam fillings experience a wider degree of expansion
and contraction, causing frequent cracks and fractures. Recently, there is an
increasing number of research presenting that the presence of mercury in
amalgam restorations can cause allergic reactions.
Ceramics are made most
often of porcelain, and they are more resistant to staining than other filling
materials. Ceramic onlays and inlays maximize the conservation of the natural
tooth. Since This is made out of a material that can easily look like your
original tooth, it blends in perfectly. Although it is durable, it is an irrefutable
fact that is costs as much as the gold amalgam.
KSJ
No comments:
Post a Comment