Photopolymer filling

Various materials can be used for tooth filling:

• amalgams;
• cements;
• composites;
• compomers;
• photopolymers of various fractions, etc.

However, the most modern and popular today are photopolymer materials.

A photopolymer filling is a filling made from a composite material whose distinctive feature is the ability to change its properties under the influence of light. Some photopolymer materials used in dentistry cannot be applied under artificial lighting. In such cases, the dentist places the filling under natural light and only then uses the lamp. Under the lamp’s influence, the material polymerizes, and such a photopolymer filling becomes virtually indistinguishable from the patient’s own tooth.

Thanks to their unique properties, photopolymer materials have become very popular in dentistry. While previously, depending on the location of carious destruction, various filling materials were used, today virtually all clinics in Ukraine use only photopolymer materials.

Photopolymers in dentistry have not accidentally become so popular. Among the large number of materials available for tooth filling, only photopolymers have so many advantages:

• good fixation;
• resistance to temperature effects;
• resistance to food effects;
• sufficient plasticity;
• high strength;
• good aesthetic properties;
• high drying speed.

Photopolymer filling placement is performed quite quickly, while the patient can eat and drink immediately after the dental appointment. A good photopolymer filling is practically invisible in the mouth: even the dentist cannot always see the edges of a photopolymer filling.

A photopolymer is a composite material (consisting of two or more components). In dentistry, materials consisting of the following are used:

• filler;
• light-reflecting polymer.

Thus, photopolymer fillings can be of various types depending on what specific filler is included in their composition.

• Destruction of the tooth crown due to caries;
• Destruction of the tooth crown due to trauma;
• Minor defects (chips, cracks);
• Color change.

There are practically no contraindications to placing specifically a photopolymer filling, as the material is hypoallergenic and harmless to the body. However, there are general contraindications for tooth filling:

• destruction of the tooth crown by more than 30%;
• tooth mobility and inflammation of the tooth root(s).

The only contraindication to using photopolymer material is the treatment of baby teeth. A photopolymer filling on a baby tooth is not always placed due to insufficient enamel mineralization.

Examination and X-ray

Filling a tooth with photopolymer requires taking an X-ray. This procedure is not performed to increase the cost of services – it has a clear medical rationale. The dentist must assess how deeply the carious destruction has spread and whether there is a need for endodontic treatment.

Filling

If the tooth pulp is not damaged, the dentist can proceed to filling. Sometimes the procedure is performed without anesthesia if the damage is not too extensive.

During the filling process, the dentist removes damaged tissues, applies various compounds (dentin conditioner, adhesive agent) and forms the lost crown part from photopolymer.

It is important to note that before curing the filling under the lamp, the tooth must be isolated from moisture. Therefore, a special isolation system – a rubber dam – is used.

Just a few minutes after placing a photopolymer filling, the patient can eat and drink. Care for a photopolymer filling is no different from caring for the patient’s own teeth.

Photopolymer fillings are characterized by a fairly long service life. On average, photopolymer fillings last 5-7 years, but in some cases can serve up to 15 years.

However, in some cases filling replacement is necessary:

• If a border is visible under the filling, this may indicate the formation of secondary caries. In this case, the filling must be removed, the cavity cleaned, and re-filled.
• The filling may also wear down during use. Especially in patients who suffer from pathological tooth abrasion.
• If a photopolymer filling has fallen out, which may be a result of chemical or physical factors, it can be replaced with a new one.

Cost of photopolymer filling

Prices for photopolymer fillings vary depending on the complexity of the case and the materials used by the dentist. Fillings on front teeth may also be more expensive. In Kyiv, prices for photopolymer fillings range from 1 to 3-4 thousand hryvnias.

At Osadchyi Dental Clinic, we use only the best photopolymer materials, and we also track new products on the market, as materials appear quite frequently.