All about Temporary Fillings: Purpose and Function

Maryna Stavyarska

(240)

Published: 28.05.2024 Updated: 28.05.2024 8 min. 1,022

If the patient goes to the dentist in time, the problem with the tooth can often be solved in one visit. But much more often, caries and other pathologies are diagnosed when complex therapy is already required. In this case, temporary fillings are used to close the tooth cavity at intermediate stages of treatment. Why put a temporary filling, how long can you have it, and how does it differ from the permanent one – the answers to all the questions are collected in this article.

Definition of a Temporary Filling and its Function

A temporary filling is a material that protects the exposed area of a tooth during long-term dental treatment. It prevents microorganisms, chemical irritants and food particles from entering the tooth cavity. The filling relieves the patient of pain and discomfort and prevents the development of complications.

Another function of a temporary filling is to fix a medication mixture to devitalize the nerve or eliminate bacteria. Sealing the tooth with a particular material allows the doctor to carry out high-quality treatment in several stages, ensuring the removal of pathological tissues and the absence of inflammation in the root canals.

Critical cases of using temporary fillings

This method of closing a tooth defect is resorted to when there is a need for prolonged treatment, which includes at least 2 visits. A temporary filling is used:

• to remove the nerve in pulpitis to fix the devitalizing paste in the tooth cavity;
• in deep caries to observe the pathological process and decide whether the nerve should be removed;
• after endodontic treatment of root canals to make sure that the problem is eliminated;
• in complex treatment of periodontitis, when it is necessary to put the medicine into cleaned root canals.

Temporary fillings are sometimes used to protect a prepared tooth before restorations. It is mainly used to place a ceramic inlay, a durable micro-prosthesis much more reliable than a conventional photopolymer restoration. The indication for inlay restoration is extensive decay between the teeth of the lateral group or on the chewing surface of the molars.

Materials for Temporary Fillings and Their Characteristics

Plastic and inexpensive materials are used to restore the integrity of the tooth for a short period of time. Their main properties: good adhesion to dental tissues, hermetic closure of the cavity, hypoallergenic, easy removal. In modern dentistry, 3 main options are used:

• Artificial dentin is a powder based on a mixture of kaolin, zinc oxide, and sulphate, which turns into a plastic material when mixed with water.
• Filling cement – a strong mixture that is intended for temporary restoration of chewing teeth that are subjected to heavy loads.
• Polymer paste – a viscous and very plastic material that can quickly fill a dental cavity and easily hardens under the rays of a lamp.

The dentist chooses the suitable material to fill the tooth’s cavity. All options are affordable, so they have a small impact on the total cost of dental treatment.

The process of placing a temporary filling

Before placing a temporary filling, the dentist carries out treatment measures. They begin with opening the cavity and removing all non-viable tooth tissues. The type of disease determines further steps:

• in case of deep caries without signs of pulp damage, the cavity is thoroughly washed and antiseptically treated;
• In the first stage of pulpitis treatment, a devitalizing paste is placed in the cavity to destroy the neurovascular bundle;
• At the second stage of pulpitis treatment, the root canals are cleaned and filled.

After completion of one of the stages of dental treatment, the doctor proceeds to temporary filling. The prepared and dried cavity is filled with the chosen material, which hardens on its own or under the influence of light rays. The procedure is performed quickly, as the dentist does not need to recreate the exact shape of the dental crown and does not have to worry about aesthetics. After the filling, the doctor recommends oral care and home treatment and sets a date for the next visit.

The lifespan of a temporary filling and conditions for its replacement

The dentist will tell you how long you can wear a temporary filling when the next stage of treatment is completed. Usually, it is removed after 2-3 days—this period is sufficient for devitalising the pulp or monitoring the dynamics of the inflammatory process in the tooth. Sometimes, the treatment period is prolonged for several weeks and requires more than 2-3 visits to the doctor. To avoid complications, it is necessary to strictly adhere to the schedule of visits to the dentist.

What happens if the temporary filling is not removed in time:

• the material will lose its tightness, and bacteria will start to penetrate the root canals;
• secondary inflammation of the treated tooth;
• drugs in the dental cavity will cause damage to the hard tissue;
• the filling will crumble and fall out, leaving a significant defect in the tooth.

A temporary filling should only be replaced with a permanent one after all treatment steps have been completed and the affected tooth no longer shows any signs of pathology. The temporary filling is repeated if the material has crumbled or fallen out before the dentist can restore the dental crown.

Comparison of temporary and permanent fillings

The main difference is the length of time for which the filling material is placed. The length of service life accounts for many other differences between these types of dental restorations. For convenience, the key points are summarized in a table.

Potential complications and how to avoid them

The most common problem faced by patients is pain after the placement of a temporary filling. A slight soreness in the first days after treatment is considered a natural reaction of tissues to the manipulations performed and the effect of the medication in the dental cavity. Usually, the pain is of moderate intensity, does not interfere with sleep and the performance of daily activities. It is most pronounced in the first hours after anaesthesia’s end and gradually subsides in the following days.

In rare cases, complications occur after a temporary filling:

• severe toothache that increases over time;
• hypersensitivity to hot, cold, sour, sweet and mechanical stimuli;
• significant swelling of the gum and cheek near the painful tooth;
• redness and bleeding of the gum;
• metallic or other bad taste in the mouth;
• inability to chew with the affected side of the jaw.

Such symptoms may indicate the progression of the inflammatory process, damage to adjacent tissues, or the development of an allergic reaction. To understand and eliminate the causes of the discomfort, you should contact the doctor who placed the filling and make an appointment for the next appointment.

Recommendations for the Care of Temporary Fillings

Given the fragility of the material and the presence of a pathological process in the tooth, it is necessary to handle the temporary filling very carefully. To prevent it from falling out and crumbling before its time, you should follow the dentist’s recommendations:

• Take water and food not earlier than 2-3 hours after filling, when the material is completely hardened;
• Follow a gentle diet with restriction of food irritating the gums, hard fruits and vegetables, nuts;
• Brush teeth with a soft toothbrush without pressing on the sore tooth;
• Use floss, mouthwash and irrigator to clean food debris from the mouth gently and well.

To reduce the discomfort caused by dental disease and to continue the therapy at home, the doctor may prescribe tablets, mouthwashes, or applications to the mucous membrane of the gums. It is necessary to follow the doctor’s prescriptions to complete the course of treatment as quickly as possible.

Temporary fillings are not the most convenient for the patient but are a necessary stage of complex dental treatment. If you follow the doctor’s recommendations responsibly, they will not cause serious discomfort, and in just a few days, a permanent aesthetic restoration of the tooth will be possible.

We are waiting for you at the KES Clinic! Here, you will receive professional diagnostics and high-quality treatment.