Introduction – What is a temporary filling?
A temporary filling (also called a temporary filling) is a filling that is not permanent. It has to be renewed within a certain period of time because the material is washed out or removed. This is because temporary filling materials have poorer mechanical and esthetic properties than permanent filling materials.
Which filling materials are used?
Various dental cements are used for temporary fillings, for example CavitTM is one of the temporary closure materials, but even when hardened, it is not masticatory and lasts less than 14 days.
- Zinc oxide phosphate cement (Harvard Cement ®)
- Zinc oxideugenolzement (TempBondTM)
- Glass ionomer cement (KetacCemTM and KetacFillTM) or
- Resin cement (Rey XTM Unicem)
A temporary filling consists of this
Temporary fillings are usually dental cements, which are made by mixing a liquid with powder. Zinc oxide phosphate cement consists of liquid: 50-60% phosphoric acid, 35% water, 5-10% aluminum and zinc powder: 90% zinc oxide powder, 10% magnesium oxide Zinc oxide eugenol cement contains liquid: eugenol (clove oil and other plant oils) Powder: 70% zinc oxide, 28% rosin, 2% activators Glass ionomer cement is composed as follows Liquid: 48% acidic polymer, 47% water, 7% tartaric acid Powder: Aluminosilicate glass with calcium and fluoride Resin cement is a dual-curing cement, which means that light accelerates curing. This is achieved by means of synthetic resin molecules, which also occur in composite fillings. Liquid: phosphoric acid methacrylates (monomers) Powder: inorganic basic fillers CavitTM is already mixed and consists of zinc oxide, ethyl diacetate, zinc sulfate and polyvinyl acetate.
How long does a temporary filling last?
Depending on the material used, the durability of the temporary filling varies. The treating dentist can give exact information about the material and its durability. So-called CavitTM fillings have the lowest durability.
They are mostly used during root canal treatment to close the cavity between appointments. Cavit has a consistency similar to chewing gum and should be replaced after a few days to 2 weeks. Cement-based fillings usually do not last longer than 6-12 months, including zinc phosphate cement or zinc oxide eugenol cement. GIZ (glass ionomer cement) can adhere to the tooth structure for longer periods of time, which is why this cement is also used as a permanent filling, e.g. at the neck of the tooth. Resin cement is also often used as a core build-up in preparation for a crown and can approach the durability of a definitive filling.
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