Composite fillings – characteristics, advantages, disadvantages, price

Proven content

Composite fillings are currently the most popular types of fillings used to mask cavities after caries and mechanical damage. The greatest advantage of composites is the ability to adjust their color to the color of the teeth, which reflects a high aesthetic level in the treatment of teeth. Do composite fillings have any disadvantages? How much do composites cost and what does their price depend on?

Composite fillings – short description

Composite filling is one of the types of seals that has gained popularity in recent years. The composite filling is made of artificial materials. The composites that are used to fill the cavities in the teeth can be color-matched to the color of the dentition, which is why they look very natural. Due to the possibility of selecting the color of the composite, this material is used in the treatment of teeth located both in the back of the jaw and in the front part. Composites are fillings of the so-called light-cured. This means that they are prepared in special tubes with a consistency similar to modeling clay or plasticine. After placing such material in the patient’s defect, the dentist irradiates the tooth with a special polymerization lamp, which causes the composite to cure. Composite fillings are constantly being researched by scientists, thanks to which dentists can now choose from many types of composites that have different properties. Chemically cured composites prepared in tubes are also often used in dentistry. One tube contains liquid and another contains powder. The contents of both tubes are mixed with each other and the resulting mass fills the cavity in the tooth. Under the influence of a chemical reaction between the components of both substances, the mass hardens and permanently protects the drilled hole in the tooth. However, this type of composite is used much less frequently, because it does not give the aesthetic appearance that is as satisfactory as light-cured composites. When choosing a composite filling, remember that they do not protect your teeth for life. Composites should be replaced on average every 5-6 years, although their durability is estimated at approx. 10 years. These types of fillings also become discolored, especially in the case of frequent consumption of coffee, tea or smoking tobacco products.

How are cement fillings different from other fillings? Check: Cement fillings – how are they different from other dental fillings?

Composite fillings – the course of treatment

The process of caries removal and cavity filling consists of several stages, which can be presented as follows:

1. anesthesia of the patient – currently, in most cases, the dentist offers the patient the possibility of anesthesia before drilling. The most common anesthesia in caries treatment is local anesthesia. It is very rare to use general anesthesia or the so-called “Stupid Johnny”. Anesthesia is most often administered by injection. Anesthesia starts working a few minutes after the injection. About two hours after the procedure, the anesthesia stops working and the speech apparatus returns to full efficiency;
2. cleaning the tooth from caries, food debris, saliva – with the use of special drills, the dentist removes tooth tissues affected by caries. It also gets rid of food debris and saliva. This stage is a key element in the treatment of teeth. If caries removal is performed carelessly, there is a high probability of recurrence of carious lesions, which may have much worse and more difficult to treat consequences;
3. placing a foundation – at this stage, the dentist places a material on the bottom of the deep cavity, whose task is to isolate the tooth pulp from the composite filling. If the dentist does not put the underlay, it may cause the filling to pressurize on the pulp, which is very uncomfortable for the patient. In the case of small and medium cavities, it is not necessary to apply a primer;
4. placing the filling – in this part of the process, the dentist places a composite filling on the patient. First, orthophosphoric acid is applied to the tooth, i.e. a special blue gel that is squeezed out of a syringe. This gel prepares the tooth surface for bonding with the composite. The dentist then rinses the gel out of the tooth. If the gel gets onto the patient’s tongue, there are no consequences. The patient will feel only the bitter-sour taste of the preparation. The dentist dries the cavity with a blower and lubricates it with a special fluid called a bond. This fluid is exposed to a polymerization lamp which hardens the fluid. The dentist then places an appropriate filling, usually in several layers. Each layer is exposed separately to harden it properly;
5. adjusting the filling to the patient’s bite – at the very end, the dentist assesses whether the composite filling is too high, does not protrude above the tooth shaft, and adjusts it to the patient’s bite.

How to prevent tooth decay? Read: Tooth decay and its prevention

Composite fillings – advantages

Composite fillings are very often used because they have many advantages indicated by dentists. The most frequently mentioned advantages include:

1. high tightness of composites – composites adhere very tightly to the teeth, thus significantly reducing the risk of food residues getting into sealed cavities;
2. high resistance – composites are very durable and are not damaged. However, it should be remembered that they work well in smaller cavities;
3. high aesthetics of composites – matching the composites to the color of the dentition is one of the most frequently mentioned advantages. After the procedure, the teeth look natural and the fillings are practically invisible.
4. composites are very safe materials;
5. when shaping the filling, the dentist saves a significant part of healthy tooth tissue – an important advantage of composites is that there is no need to remove a large part of the tooth to match the applied material.
6. moderate cost – composites are not the cheapest fillings, but neither are they the most expensive materials.

What types of fillings are used in modern dentistry? Check: Seal

Composite fillings – disadvantages

Despite numerous advantages, composite fillings also have their disadvantages. The most frequently indicated disadvantages of composite fillings include:

1. susceptibility to dyes and discoloration – although composites are matched to the color of their own teeth, they are susceptible to a change in this color. Composites change color as a result of frequent drinking of coffee or tea, and also after smoking tobacco products;
2. durability of composites – composite fillings are unfortunately not very durable. It should be remembered that composite seals should be replaced on average every 5-6 years. Their durability should last up to 10 years, but it is hardly worth delaying until the last moment;
3. they do not work well in large cavities – composites are not the best choice in the case of really extensive cavities. If the cavity is really large, the composite seal may break, especially when eating hard food such as nuts or rusks.

Who should take care of teeth in order to avoid tooth decay? Take a look: Caries – who is particularly at risk?

Composite fillings – price

Composite filling prices vary greatly. Treatment costs depend on the depth and extent of the defect, the underlay used or not, and the anesthesia administered. In the case of minor losses, the prices range from PLN 80 to PLN 150. For a medium-sized composite seal, you should pay about PLN 90 – 200. On the other hand, filling large cavities with composites can cost from 100 to even 350 PLN.

Composite fillings and bonding

Composite fillings are also used in the so-called bonding. Bonding is a method of tooth surface reconstruction, which uses composite resins and the phenomenon of adhesion. The shape of the tooth crown is usually determined during one visit to the dentist’s office. An indication for bonding is, for example, chipped, chipped or broken teeth. This is especially true for those teeth that are most exposed to damage or abrasion, i.e. the upper medial incisors. If the patient has a fragment of a broken tooth with him, the dentist can stick it to the tooth crown. In the absence of this fragment, the dentist builds up the broken tooth using a composite material. Bonding allows you to even out the line of teeth, smooth their surface and reduce discoloration. This treatment significantly improves the aesthetics of the patient’s smile. The bonding procedure begins with a gentle matting of the tooth with a drill or an abrasive disc. The dentist then etches the enamel with acid. A composite resin is applied to the prepared tooth, which is illuminated by the doctor with a polymerization lamp. If further restoration is required, the dentist will apply another layer of composite material matching the color of the teeth.

Would you like to learn more about bonding and tooth restoration? Be sure to read: Tooth reconstruction – composite, root canal treatment, fiberglass

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