Tooth filling with amalgam

Introduction

In order to remove caries successfully and to be able to provide the affected tooth with long-term care afterwards, a dental filling is usually used. After the dentist has completely removed the caries and drained the hole (cavity) created by the treatment of the caries, one of the different filling materials can be used. In dentistry, a distinction is made between rigid and plastic materials.

Plastic fillings are placed in the tooth in a deformable state, adapted to the specific tooth structure of the patient and only hardened afterwards. Rigid materials, on the other hand, must first be made in the laboratory based on an impression. Both amalgam and plastic fillings belong to the group of plastic fillings, while so-called inlays or onlays are rigid fillings.

In the past, amalgam was used in the majority of cases to make a dental filling, but as more and more emphasis is placed on inconspicuous filling materials nowadays, the majority of patients opt for a plastic filling. After the caries has been completely removed and the resulting cavity has been drained, it must be assessed how deep the tooth had to be drilled out. In the case of very deep carious defects, it is recommended to place a so-called underfilling and thus protect the tooth pulp and the nerve fibres embedded in it.

A medication containing calcium hydroxide is used, which has a calming effect on the nerve fibers on the one hand and is supposed to stimulate the formation of new dentine on the other hand. A matrix is then placed around the tooth to be treated and fixed with small wedges. The dentist can now reproduce the natural tooth shape with the freshly mixed amalgam and fill the hole in the tooth.

Unlike plastic fillings, an amalgam filling must harden for at least twenty-four hours before it can be polished. Therefore, two sessions are necessary to complete the filling.