dental fillings

Dental Fillings: Types, Their Advantages and Disadvantages

What is a dental filling?

A dental filling is a dental restorative material used to restore the function, integrity and morphology of missing tooth structure. Function, integrity and morphology are lost as a result of decay or trauma and this may also result in pain.

Dental fillings can be either direct restorative materials or indirect restorative materials and this depends on whether they can be placed directly in the prepared tooth cavity or if they are first prepared in the lab before they are placed in the cavity.

There are plenty of options when it comes to dental fillings which have been developed over time, each improvement designed to fill a deficiency. Each improvement also came along with a sacrifice for a strong quality of the older material. This leads to the various advantages and disadvantages of the various filling materials.

The decision on which material would be ideal for your unique case is made with your dentist while putting into consideration the different properties of each.

Types of Dental Fillings

1. Amalgam dental fillings

This is an alloy containing silver, mercury in the larger proportions with other metals being present in small quantities. It has been present for over 150 years and has been designed and redesigned which qualifies its being the most widely used filling material.

Advantages

  • It is cheaper than all the other filling materials
  • It has low shrinkage and henceforth little to no leakage
  • It is very durable
  • It can withstand strong biting forces, can be placed in one visit and is resistant to further decay.

Disadvantages

  • It is not aesthetically pleasant due to its contrast with the natural tooth colour
  • It is not preservative since placing it requires destruction of healthy tooth structure, the residues if not well handled can pollute the environment. Despite the aggressive anti amalgam campaigns, there has not been any evidence supporting the theory that enough mercury leaks into the blood to cause any diseases.

2. Composite dental fillings

This is made up of an acrylic resin and powdered glass like particles. It is tooth coloured and can either harden on its own or can be cured using UV light.

Advantages

  • Aesthetically pleasing since there are many shades to match the various natural tooth colour
  • It can be placed in one visit
  • It is durable, can be used for both front and back teeth, and can withstand moderate biting forces
  • There is preservation of tooth structure, no corrosion and a low risk of breaking if it is well bonded above the enamel layer

Disadvantages

  • It is costly
  • It is not as strong as amalgam
  • It is more difficult to place
  • It may leak with time if bonded below the dentin surface.

3. Glass ionomer

This is made up of acrylic acid and fine glass powders. It is usually used on the root surface cavities and in areas without very strong biting forces. It is also used to cement crowns.

Advantages

  • Aesthetically pleasing since it resembles tooth structure
  • It can contain fluoride which gives prophylaxis against caries
  • It preserves tooth structure during its placement, it can be completed in a single visit and allergic reactions are rare.

Disadvantages

  • Limited application because it cannot withstand strong biting forces
  • It is a bit costly
  • It may become rough with age allowing plaque to build up and consequently caries development.

4. Resin Ionomer

It is made up of a glass filler, acrylic acids and acrylic resins. It is usually used for fillings on the non-chewing substances and for fillings on decidual (milk) teeth.

Advantages

  • It is aesthetically pleasing, even more translucent than glass ionomer which brings it to resemble dentin more closely
  • It can be placed in a single visit
  • It does not require destruction of the healthy tooth structure
  • It lasts longer than glass ionomer albeit not as long as composite does and the fluoride it contains is prophylactic against caries.

Disadvantages

  • It has limited application,
  • It is moderately costly and wears fast so it would require replacement.

5. Porcelain

It is used to make indirect restorations for example crowns, veneers, inlays and on lays. It can also be used n combination with a metal to make porcelain fused to metal crown.

Advantages

  • Aesthetically pleasing, it has good resistance to further decay, resistant to surface wear.
  • Due to its precise fitting, it also does not have leakage and thus no secondary caries develop.
  • Allergic reactions to it are rare.

Disadvantages

  • It is brittle and thus can easily break
  • It is costly and needs a minimum of two visits.

6. Gold alloys

These contain gold, copper and other metals. Gold being the elite metal it is, forms a strong and efficient material for crowns, bridges, on lays and in lays.

Advantages

  • No corrosion
  • Has excellent durability
  • Resistant to bite forces,
  • Its placement preserves the healthy tooth structure and it resists leakage.

Disadvantages

  • It is costly (obviously), it is not tooth colored and so in case one does not want the attention
  • It is inconveniencing, and it needs more than a single appointment to be placed.

Are you having teeth cavities and are in need of a dental filling? Book an appointment with our dentist today and we will work out a customized affordable treatment plan for you.

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Bad breath

Bad Breath (Halitosis): Causes and Treatment

Recently, I saw this meme on twitter that said, “now people with bad breath can suffer the way they make others suffer”. The attached photo was of a man wearing a mask. Bad breath is unpleasant, inconveniencing, and disrespectful. Okay I am done with the seemingly deprecating words considering we are going to talk about bad breath or halitosis and why it is caused by a myriad of factors and not just neglect of brushing one’s teeth.

What is Halitosis?

Halitosis is the persistent and unpleasant odor that comes out of a person’s mouth on exhalation. Considering its many causes, it is classified to ease the taxonomy. The major groups are real halitosis and psychogenic halitosis. Real halitosis is one where the malodor can be objectively verified and measured while psychogenic halitosis is subjective to the patient and can only be detected by them.

Real halitosis is further divided into intraoral and extra oral halitosis. Our lens in this blog today will be on the intra oral one considering the dental specialty which is our niche. Another form of halitosis is transient halitosis which is temporary and is directly related to what someone has ingested. it lasts a few minutes to hours and is not pathologic.

How does intraoral halitosis come about?

The pathophysiology of intraoral halitosis; in the mouth, an infection by gram negative anaerobic bacteria may happen. They usually invade the crypts and furrows on the posterior dorsal surface of the tongue. These microorganisms degrade organic substances like food debris, epithelial cells and saliva. The products from this degradation include volatile sulfur containing compounds and these are responsible for the bad smell. The bacteria are also associated with gum disease and thus gum disease can also be a cause of halitosis.

Causes of bad breath (halitosis)

These are some of the causes of halitosis.

  • Gingivitis and periodontitis
  • Inadequate restorations which have sites which trap food.
  • Open carious lesions
  • Decreased salivary flow which prevents the washing away of debris from the teeth and the tongue.
  • Some local infections for example pericoronitis, periimplantitis and oral candidiasis.
  • Oral dentures which are not well taken care of in conjunction with poor oral hygiene.

There are cofactors whose presence facilitates the development of halitosis.  For example, stress, smoking, mouth breathing, unbalanced diet, decrease in water intake, excessive ingestion of coffee and alcohol. These in their own way each play a role in the pathophysiology and can exacerbate the development of halitosis.

When do I need to see a dentist?

Bad breath, especially if one religiously brushes their teeth and it insists on wafting from their mouth is psychologically and socially distressing. Such a person does well to see a dentist because the other efforts such as; chewing gum, candies, mouth rinse only offer a temporary masking effect.

The dentist will examine and establish a cause and thus design an effective treatment plan. When the cause is treated, the effect is more long lasting or even permanent which is desirable. Treatment is majorly on the patient’s hands. This is because they need to modify how they brush their teeth to include brushing the posterior dorsal surface of the tongue. There are special tongue brushes which effectively remove the coating that is home to the pathogenic bacteria.

A modification in diet to include more zinc and vitamins is also needed. A mouth wash which contains a flavor e.g. mint (masks the smell), a bactericidal agent e.g. chlorhexidine and a neutralizing component e.g. zinc also helps in the treatment. In case there are conditions in the mouth for example gingivitis or carious lesions, these must also be attended to effectively treat the halitosis.

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dental bridge

Dental bridges; Advantages, Types and Cost of Dental Bridges

In case you have travelled to Jinja, you must be familiar with the sense of awe and excitement as you approach the bridge which steadily morphs in to fright or perhaps a little unease as you cross it. That is if you are not distracted by the marvelous sights and the exquisite architecture. Bridges connect places that were once separable from each other, offering a means to close a gap. Dental bridges are not any different.

What is a dental bridge?

A dental bridge is a prosthodontic structure used to fill a gap created by one or more missing teeth. A false tooth or teeth, also known as pontics are placed in the gap to restore both aesthetics and function. Teeth can go missing for one reason or another. You may lose your teeth due to an accident or to disease or to trauma. Whatever the reason may be, the implications of losing the teeth remain standing regardless the etiology.

There are many options for replacement of teeth and cognizant of that, we are going to focus on dental bridges in this blog.

Advantages of a dental bridge

The advantages of a dental bridge are;

  • Once the gap is filled, the remaining teeth do not change position which if they did, the consequences would be dire.
  • Chewing function is restored and becomes unproblematic.
  • Speech and pronunciation of words is also restored.
  • In comparison to implants, dental bridges are cheaper.
  • In comparison to dentures, they are more permanent and less inconveniencing.
  • In comparison to implants, they are also less invasive especially in cases where multiple teeth need to be replaced.

Types of dental bridges

There are three main types of dental bridges.

1. Traditional fixed bridges

These are the most commonly implicated bridges. The filler tooth is supported by adjacent crowns placed over healthy teeth on either side of the gap. The adjacent crowns support the pontic and prevent it from falling out or easily breaking. These are placed in gaps with healthy strong teeth on either side. The healthy teeth need reshaping before they are fitted with crowns.

3. Cantilever bridges

These are implicated when there are no viable teeth on one side of the gap which needs to be worked on.  The pontic placed can be fixed and one tooth supports the bridge and crown.  It cannot be used in case there are no teeth on both sides of the target gap. It is also not desirable in case it is at the front for aesthetic reasons or if the abutment tooth is supporting another prosthetic restoration.

3. Maryland bonded bridges

These are majorly implicated when the front teeth are what need to be restored. They are resin bonded bridges and are commonly porcelain fused to metal brides. The pontic in their case is fixed posteriorly to healthy abutment teeth with metal or porcelain wings (clasps). Abutment teeth are the teeth found immediately on either side of a tooth. They are more conservative since the adjacent teeth do not need to be shaped. 

How much does a dental bridge cost

The cost of a dental bridge is linked to the material used to make the bridge. Bridges can be made of purely metal and metal alloys, they can be made of porcelain and they can be made of porcelain fused to metal. The metals used to make dental bridges are alloys containing gold or platinum. The more gold it contains, the stronger and the more expensive. The porcelain fused to metal bridges has an aesthetic advantage. Zirconium is a material which has the strength of a metal and the aesthetic of porcelain. Like any very good thing, it does not come cheap and is the most expensive of the bridges.

Where can I get a dental bridge

You can get a dental bridge at Ezza Dental Care. Book your appointment now or talk to our dentist for a free consultation.

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dentures

Dentures: Definition, Types, Advantages and How to Care for them

I recently watched a video about how we rarely appreciate what we have until we don’t have it anymore. Think about it, how much we ignore our ability to move from place to place until we can’t walk, Or how much we take the ability to chew our food, to pronounce the word scrupulous or to smile at our loved ones or even to laugh unabashedly in public until we lose our teeth. However, not all is lost because someone who probably wanted to chew his or her meat in peace came up with dentures and these have been developed as time has gone on.

What are dentures?

Dentures can be defined as prosthodontic devices constructed to replace missing teeth and surrounding tissues. They are typically used in case someone has lost all or almost all their teeth on either or both the arches in the mouth. Loss of teeth comes about due to old age, severe trauma, different oral diseases and so on. Loss of teeth comes with many consequences which by and by affect the physical, mental and social health of the individual in one way or another. This is a reason for which the acquisition of dentures should not be taken lightly in case one gets the misfortune of losing their teeth.

Why should one get dentures?

When one has dentures;

  • They are able to chew their food on their own and enjoy it which ensures proper nutrition.
  • They are able to speak without difficulty since loss of teeth makes pronouncing some words difficult.
  • They are able to maintain their facial structure. When teeth are missing for a prolonged period of time, the facial muscles sag and this makes one look ages beyond their years.
  • They are also able to maintain their facial aesthetic features considering the fact that dentures closely resemble the natural teeth.

Types of dentures

There are two main types of dentures. The complete dentures and the partial dentures

1. Complete dentures

Complete dentures can be of two types; conventional dentures and immediate dentures. Conventional dentures are made after the remaining teeth have been removed and 8 to 12 weeks allowed for the tissues to heal. The immediate dentures are made in advance and then placed immediately after the teeth have been removed and the gums prepared. These ensure that one does not remain completely edentulous as they wait for the conventional dentures. Overdentures are placed over a small number of the remaining natural teeth after they have been prepared.

2. Partial dentures

Partial dentures are an option in case one has not lost all their natural teeth and are made in form of a fixed bridge. In case one or more natural teeth remain, they can be used as a bridge and crowns on either side of the space are placed. Artificial teeth are then cemented into the gap, with the teeth on either side acting as support. This both replaces and prevents the teeth from falling out of position.

Side effects of dentures

After one gets their dentures, they can expect a few side effects while their body gets used to their presence in the mouth.

  • There may be increased saliva due to the irritation of the salivary glands by the dentures. This decreases after a while with acclimatization to the dentures.
  • The dentures may feel consistently loose while the oral muscles get accustomed to the dentures.
  • Irritation and soreness of the gums which with some over the counter medications. However if they are prolonged, one should see their dentist.

How to take care of dentures

Dentures should be taken care of well for them to be in peak condition for optimal use.

Dentures are not made of the same material as the natural teeth and so should not be treated the same way. The dentures should be cleaned using a denture brush and non-abrasive cleaner to prevent them from being eroded.

After removing the dentures, keep them covered in water or denture solution.

It is important that you maintain stellar oral hygiene when you have dentures to prevent numerous oral disease for example denture induced stomatitis and thrash.

Brush the tongue, the gums and the roof of the mouth using a soft bristle tooth brush to stimulate circulation when one is not wearing the dentures.

Where can I get dentures

Dentures can be acquired at Ezza Dental Care. You can schedule a free appointment with our dentist. Consultation is free

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misaligned teeth

MISALIGNED TEETH; CAUSES, EFFECTS AND TREATMENT OPTIONS

I don’t know if this goes for you too but during high school, people who had braces were considered cool. We looked at them with this sense of fascination for the sophisticated wires in their mouths. It is only now that I realize how we often delusionally admire or even envy things whose scope we do not fully appreciate. The people who wore braces had them for a number of reasons and fashion is nowhere at the top of the list. The predominant reason was that they were trying to have their misaligned teeth fixed.

What are misaligned teeth?

Misaligned teeth are teeth which are out of their proper or desirable position in the mouth.

Effects of misaligned teeth

When teeth are not in their desirable position, there are far reaching effects on the person’s way of life as a result. These include;

  1. There can be a change in one’s speech where they develop a lisp. This is because proper positions of the teeth play are role in pronunciation of some sounds.
  2. Chewing can become problematic. Misaligned teeth can make cutting, tearing and grinding food difficult or even painful which takes the joy out of eating.
  3. Misaligned teeth have many crooks and crannies which may be difficult to clean efficiently. This can result in tooth decay and subsequent gum disease.
  4. Misaligned teeth also have increased chances to be injured, especially the incisors. This is because they may not be well supported by the jaw.
  5. There can also be compromised breathing due to the defects in the jaw, tongue and cheeks positioning.
  6. One of the most severe effects is on the psychological wellbeing of a person. Misaligned teeth are not necessarily aesthetically pleasing and henceforth the self-esteem of someone may plunge.

Causes of misaligned teeth

The cause of misaligned teeth is variable in its constitution. Many factors both subtle and not can play a role in moving the teeth from their normal or desirable position. These factors can act on the teeth, the jaw, the cheek or even the tongue. Some habits can also influence how the teeth grow and thus misalign.

  • Genes influence how we develop from an embryo to a baby and then to an adult. As part of their niche, they also influence how teeth are positioned. This is determined by how the cheeks, the jaws and the tongue develop. At first glance, you may miss the correlation between all these and the teeth alignment, however it is imperative to take note of the power of consistent small things. If any of these structures is not well formed, it may affect how the teeth are positioned or how they fit in the mouth.
  • Tooth loss can also cause misalignment of teeth. This can be both in adults and in case there’s early loss of the milk teeth. The teeth neighboring the gap may grow into it and this changes the usual positioning of the teeth. Teeth can be lost to injury, to bone diseases or to gum disease. Some are knocked out during the initiation ceremonies in some cultures.
  • Habits play a role in the development of misaligned teeth. In babies and toddlers, thumb sucking and excessive use of pacifier or bottles can cause displacement of the front teeth. In adults, mouth breathing, teeth grinding and other similar habits can eventually result in displacement of the teeth.
  • Misalignment or malformation a jaw can result in poor correlated teeth especially in case a jaw is too small which results in crowding of teeth.
  • Improperly done dental restorations for example crowns and other prostheses can result in the misalignment of teeth long term.

These are just a drop in the ocean of the complexities that are the causes for misaligned teeth. Teeth may be too many or too few on the jaw which changes the orientation of the teeth.

Misaligned teeth can either repair themselves as one ages or they may need some extra help. The specialty of dentistry that deals with these and other related conditions is orthodontics.

Treatment

The treatment plan most likely to be suggested by the dentist is braces. There are a variety of braces that are chosen for their function, cost and appearance. Fixed braces are the best and are very effective. There are other options which may be more aesthetically pleasing as compared to the fixed metallic braces. These are however not as efficient and are much costlier. Lingual braces and invisible aligners are some of the options.

The treatment for misaligned teeth takes a period of 2 to 3 years. One year or more is spent wearing the braces, to coerce the teeth to grow in a certain direction and the rest of the time, retainers are worn to prevent the teeth from reverting to their former position. The visits to the dentist are usually three months to check the progress of the treatment. It is important to take care of the braces and your oral hygiene in order for the treatment to work.

Treatment for misaligned teeth is available at Ezza Dental Care. Visit us today for a free consultation and our dentist will help you come up with a customized treatment plan.

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