Treatments with plastic cover various types of treatments. Both treatment of cavities in the teeth, but also cosmetic treatments can sometimes be done with plastic. Cavities (caries) are a breakdown of the tooth tissue that occurs when bacteria on the teeth affect the tooth over time through acid formation. The formation of bacteria on the teeth is mostly due to inadequate oral hygiene, but the individual bacterial composition (bacterial flora), saliva, and other hereditary factors can influence the risk of caries.
If a cavity (caries) is detected in a tooth, the treatment required depends on the size of the cavity.
If the cavity is superficial, it is typically sufficient to treat the surface with fluoride. Fluoride treatment makes the tooth surface harder, making it more difficult for acid bacteria to penetrate. Fluoride combined with good oral hygiene can reduce the risk of the cavity progressing. It is important to note, however, that the cavity will never disappear. Therefore, it is very important to maintain good oral hygiene going forward.
If the cavity is too large to be treated with fluoride alone, it may be necessary to place a plastic filling in the tooth. The filling is done to stop the decay of the tooth that occurs when there is caries in the tooth. If nothing is done about a tooth with caries, the decay will eventually reach the nerve in the tooth, causing inflammation and potentially pain. The decay can also become so extensive that the tooth needs a root canal treatment or cannot be rebuilt and therefore must be removed.
Cavities in the teeth do not always cause symptoms and are usually detected during a routine check-up without the patient noticing it beforehand. However, if there are symptoms from the tooth, the most common ones are:
Tooth sensitivity - Food getting stuck between the teeth - Pain - Swelling in the gum around the affected tooth
Fillings today are almost exclusively made of plastic. Plastic is a good material because it is very strong and tooth-colored, which aesthetically blends well with the surrounding tooth. Another very important property of plastic is that it chemically bonds to the tooth. This means that a plastic filling will help hold a tooth together. In contrast, amalgam does not bond to the tooth.
Plastic as a cosmetic treatment can be a quick and affordable way to achieve beautiful, uniform teeth. The treatment involves a very small intervention on the tooth (minimally invasive) and is therefore less traumatizing for the tooth than a treatment in porcelain. However, there are certain limitations to plastic treatments, both cosmetically and in terms of durability, as plastic is not as strong a material as ceramic.
Feel free to ask if you have anything you would like to discuss with us regarding cosmetic plastic treatments.
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