General Dentistry

Dental Filling

Dental surgery to treat teeth damaged by dental problems such as tooth decay, cracked teeth, worn teeth, tooth erosion, etc. by using various types of synthetic materials to fill in the damaged teeth to prevent tooth decay or the dentin has been destroyed more. As for synthetic materials used in tooth fillings, there are two types: metal-colored materials and tooth-colored filling materials.

Tooth fillings made with metal-colored materials. It is a tooth filling with a filling material called amalgam, made from a combination of mercury, silver, tin, or metal. When the filling is complete, the material will be silver or gray in color. It is mainly used to fill molars and premolars. Because it is resistant to chewing force and the color may not be beautiful and smooth with the color of your teeth.

Pros	Cons
Affordable price	Have a different color than your teeth You can clearly see that the tooth was filled.
Resistant to chewing force well	After filling the tooth, you must wait 24 hours before you can use the filled tooth to chew food.
Strong and durable	Contains mercury and other metals. that may be toxic to the body

Tooth filling with tooth-colored material (Resin Composite Filling) is tooth filling. Natural tooth-colored filling material is the most commonly used today. It was developed to be used to fill both front teeth and molars. or teeth that can be seen But tooth-colored materials are not as strong as metal fillings. And there are steps to do that that are more complicated.

Pros	Cons
Color similar to natural teeth Therefore suitable for filling in front teeth or teeth that can be clearly seen	They are less durable than metal fillings and can withstand less force from chewing.
No mercury	It takes longer to fill a tooth.
You don't have to wait 24 hours to chew right away.	Can be colored from food and beverages consumed such as tea, coffee, or from smoking.

What are the benefits of dental fillings?

Dental fillings with tooth-colored materials are an easy and simple way to maintain your teeth for cosmetic purposes with the most affordable price. The resin compound used in tooth fillings can be shaped and it can be polished to look like nearby teeth. Most often, tooth-colored fillings are used as a cosmetic treatment. Its purpose is to improve the appearance of discolored or chipped teeth. It is also used to fill gaps between teeth. It can make teeth look longer or can be used to change the shape or color of teeth. Sometimes, tooth-colored fillings are used instead. Filling a tooth with an amalgam or to protect the root teeth that stick out from the gums due to receding gums.

How is the treatment process?

The dentist will select the resin compound that is closest to the color of your teeth using the color selection kit as a guide.
After choosing the color. The dentist will lightly etch or polish the surface of the tooth to make it rougher. The tooth surface is then coated with a thin layer of tooth conditioner, which helps the filling stick firmly.
When the teeth are prepared. The dentist will apply tooth-colored resin that looks like plaster to the surface of the tooth. Then the resin surface is shaped and smoothed until the desired shape is obtained. Then irradiate it with ultraviolet light or a laser to harden it.
After the filling material has hardened. The dentist will shape and polish it.

Dental Tartar

It is caused by stains caused by bacteria that combine with proteins or food particles left in various parts of the teeth until they become plaque that sticks to the edges of the teeth next to the gums and accumulates over a long period of time. It will look like a hard stain similar to limestone and stick more tightly to the tooth surface. If we don’t brush our teeth thoroughly, it will accumulate which destroys the health of our gums and teeth. We are at risk of developing periodontal disease, for example :

Gingivitis, swollen gums, bleeding or pus.
Root inflammation
Severe bad breath.
Yellow tooth color.
Bleeds easily while brushing your teeth.
Tooth loosening.

If left untreated, the most severe symptom is that the bone in the tooth socket will melt, causing the teeth to shake and the tooth had to be extracted. This is because the body is unable to rebuild the bone in the tooth socket. All of which, besides having a negative effect on oral health and teeth, also has a negative effect on confidence, personality and smile as well.

Care after scaling There may be slight soreness in the gums for 1-2 days and there may be tooth sensitivity for about 1 week. Sometimes if there is tartar accumulated after scaling, it may feel painful when pressed or bleed. Which will disappear within 1 day, but if there is bleeding and pain for a long time, you should go to see your dentist and check for abnormalities again.