Dental Surgery in Prague 3 - MuDr. Sabina Sudolska

Fillings

It is necessary to assess the extent of the defect, placement of the filling, degree of cariosity, level of hygiene and, of course, meet the requirements of the patient.

There are three types of filling materials

• amalgam fillings
• composite (white) fillings
• glass ionomer fillings

Amalgam

This material has been used for over 200 years. Thanks to its antibacterial features, it is still used as a filling material. It is an ideal solution for patients with bad hygiene, high cariosity and in situations when it is not possible to provide optimal conditions for making a composite (white) filling.

Provided it is done correctly, it is a very durable filling. Its advantages are lower price and relatively easy application.

Due to its aesthetic handicap (after polishing it is silver-colored), it can be used only in the side section of the dentice.

It is a rigid (very hard) material, which is not suitable for large annexes, specifically with non-vital (dead) teeth. A tooth treated this way is exposed to the risk of fracture (disruption, break) or abruption of the weak part of the tooth.

In order to remove the caries, it is often necessary to drill off a larger part of the tooth than the caries itself, as retention (gripping) of the amalgam filling is solely mechanical and it is necessary to wedge it into the tooth, even at the cost of a radical grinding of the healthy tissues.

Composite (white) fillings

These materials have developed dramatically in the past ten years. They are used for the whole dentice as universal materials. In comparison to amalgam, they have a number of advantages. It is a highly aesthetic choice of treatment (with a composite it is possible to reach an authentic looking substitute for the lost hard dental tissues).

In order to remove the caries, it is sufficient to drill off just the carious part of the tooth. This more considerate way (in comparison to amalgam) is enabled by both the mechanical and chemical link of the material to the tooth (the adhesive system of fixation).

A composite filling makes the tooth firm (it binds it up), so it is also suitable for extensive defects, particularly for teeth with a weakened wall.

Its application is conditional on an absolute dry field. An excellent tool is the kofferdam (a membrane which is bound on a tooth with the help of a specially shaped clip; it isolates the tooth which is being treated from saliva and water fumes from the exhaled air.

In order to provide the longstanding function of the filling, the composite is put in by layers and lightened (with a halogen lamp) within each small layer. The application of a composite filling is time-consuming and technologically demanding.

A pre-requisite for the treatment of a tooth with a white (composite) filling is very good hygiene and, in this respect, the cooperation of the patient (composites do not have antibacterial features).

Picture 1: An inappropriate composite filling – state before treatment
Picture 2: State after treatment. A new composite filling (Enamel Plus)

An inappropriate composite filling – state before treatment
State after treatment. A new composite filling (Enamel Plus)

Glass ionomer cement

This does not attain the mechanical durability of amalgam or aesthetically excellent features of a composite.

It is used as a longstanding temporary filling. At the same time, it is a material that is frequently used in children’s dentistry, thanks to its antibacterial features.

It is important to realize that a filling is just a material (even when produced in a top quality way, which modern medicine enables). It will never fully substitute for the dental tissue for your whole lifetime. All filling materials get worn out after a while, so it is necessary to check on their state (function, appearance) at regular check-ups.

Prices of dental fillings

Please find prices of particular dental fillings below .

a composite filling:

• 1 facet CZK 1060
• 2 facets CZK 1420
• 3 facets CZK 1950
• completion of a tooth with a composite CZK 1950

an amalgam filling:

• 1 facet CZK 883
• 2 facets CZK 1050
• 3 facets CZK 1430

a glass ionomer filling:

• 1 facet CZK 729
• 2 facets CZK 1120
• 3 facets CZK 1493

treatment with kofferdam CZK 150