We know the drill: it may not bring you joy to visit the dentist to get a cavity filled. But there is a new advancement in the technology of fillings that should bring comfort to you. A team of researchers has created a new dental filling that they report to be twice as strong as traditional fillings. These researches developed the compound for their new filing by using an ingredient used to manufacture car bumpers and protect outdoor decks.This development might mean that your fillings will hold together better and last longer in your mouth.
DENTAL FILLINGS
There is a good chance that when you come to Advanced Smile Care and if you have a bad cavity, you will need a filling. Our doctors will treat the affected area by removing the decayed part of the tooth. A traditional filling lasts 7 to 10 years, but our best work notwithstanding, the large majority of fillings eventually need to be replaced by a new filing or with a crown. We will treat your cavity with a material that’s dependent on the severity of the decay.
“We can walk you through all of the options for filings at our office. Our prioirty is to make sure you’re getting a filling that’s right for you and your teeth,” said Dr. Jason Kboudi who heads up the team at Advanced Smile Care.
Think about your filling as a pothole that surfaces on a road and gets filled by road crews with asphalt. Over time, given all the wear and tear of traffic and the impact of the hot sun and the storms that mark our weather in South Texas, that pothole will return.
NEW DENTAL FILLINGS
Researchers from OHSU School of Dentistry in Portland, Oregon have designed a new material which they report to be twice likely to withstand breakage when compared to a standard filling. The researchers say they also developed an adhesive to keep fillings in place which is 30 percent stronger than current adhesive materials.
The study was published in Scientific Reports and Dental Materials. One of the authors of the study said the new filling will prevent long-term problems and less frequent dentist visits.
“They crack under the pressure of chewing, or have gaps form between the filling and the tooth, which allow bacteria to seep in and a new cavity to form,” said Carmem Pfeifer, D.D.S., Ph.D on OHSU.edu. “Every time this happens, the tooth under the restorations becomes weaker and weaker, and what starts as a small cavity may end up with root canal damage, a lost tooth or even life-threatening infections.”
“Stronger dental materials mean patients won’t have to get fillings repaired or replaced nearly as often,” she said. “This not only saves them money and hassle, but also prevents more serious problems and more extensive treatment.”
At Advanced Smile Care, we work hard to ensure that our patients are receiving care that is at the forefront of dental technology. We will keep track of this development and let you know if there is progress with this technology.