Restorations

There are a number of filling materials of choice for restoring the teeth. However they all have their advantages and disadvantages.

1. Amalgam

Advantages Disadvantages
  • quick to place
  • relatively strong
  • not technique sensitive
  • relatively inexpensive
  • relatively longlasting
  • colour
  • corrodes and allows redecay over time
  • metal fatigue and fracture eventually
  • won't stick to tooth, need larger preparations
  • contains heavy metals which can be dangerous
  • moves with time and cracks

2. Composite Resin

Advantages Disadvantages
  • tooth coloured
  • bonds to tooth structure
  • small preparations
  • no unnecessary removal of tooth for retention
  • can polish
  • weak
  • shrinks when sets -sensitivity and re-decay occurring
  • cracks easily and chips under load
  • very technique sensitive
  • takes time to do properly
  • not long lasting
  • relatively expensive

3. Glass Ionomer

Advantages Disadvantages
  • chemically bonds to dentine
  • releases fluoride over time as slowly dissolves
  • easily and quickly placed
  • not technique sensitive
  • great in children as temporary restoration and in elderly for root fillings and for large exposed tooth dentine
  • wears quickly in places of grinding
  • inappropriate colour matches
  • can't polish
  • short life span