Adhesive filling question. Advice please!

sudzs

Recently went to an NHS dentist for first time check-up. (I'm in the UK!)

Everything was fine except for 2 cavaties, 1 in a lower incisor and the other in the first lower premolar. They are both at the gum line and from where the gum has receded a bit. (God, I'm at the age of having receding gums!! :rolleyes: )

Anyway, she suggested I have them filled, not sure of the filling type she suggested except that it is white and the type you use on an area full of saliva. I will be getting anesthetic for both.

But, was with a private dentist since for a little problem with a crown, (yes the same one for anyone who remembers my threads about this problemaic crown!) and as none of the 3 dentists I'd seen in the last 9 months had mentioned the 2 cavaties, I asked him what he thought of them and if I needed some treatment for them.

He said they weren't actually decayed but that flakes of tooth had come away due to flexing of the tooth as a result of my clenching/grinding! He said treatment would be adhesive fillings, no drilling and no anesthetic. He didn't seem particularly worried about them and saw no urgency in having something done.

I'd never heard of adhesive fillings so any info or advice on whether I should go for them or go for the drilling fillings (!) or should I even have anything done to them? The only slight irritation with one is there is a small amount of sensitivity but it's no problem really.

Big_G

Sounds like you have abfraction lesions. Adhesive restorations are restorations that use an adhesive to bond them to the tooth, or restorations that self-bond to the tooth. Examples of this are composite or glass ionomer amongst others. Basically white fillings.

These fillings require meticulous moisture control (tooth can't be too dry or too wet) otherwise they have poor longevity. They are technique sensitive (not all dentists are the same in this regard!)

sudzs

Big_G wrote: »

Sounds like you have abfraction lesions. Adhesive restorations are restorations that use an adhesive to bond them to the tooth, or restorations that self-bond to the tooth. Examples of this are composite or glass ionomer amongst others. Basically white fillings.

These fillings require meticulous moisture control (tooth can't be too dry or too wet) otherwise they have poor longevity. They are technique sensitive (not all dentists are the same in this regard!)

Thanks for that Big_G!

If it were you though, would you go for the adhesive or the regular drill and fill ones??

Or could I just not have anything done for the moment?

georgieporgy

I agree with Big_G and also with your private dentist in UK. If the latter isn't immediately concerned then neither would I be, unless they are sensitive or bits of food get stuck in them or they are in a visible position and look ugly.
If the 'holes' are small,and you prefer not have fillings if possible, they can simply be sealed with adhesive which will eliminate any sensitivity (but they can be filled as well...)
This doesn't mean your nhs dentist is 'wrong' for suggesting to fill them. She has just seen you this one time and has spotted 2 minor imperfections and has offered to fix them.
It seems to me your main dental problem (and i've read the earlier crown history ) is clenching or grinding. Have your dentist deal with that and I bet the other issues will be less of a problem in the future. And I would stick to one dentist who is familier with your case.

sudzs

If the 'holes' are small,and you prefer not have fillings if possible, they can simply be sealed with adhesive

Is that the same as the adhesive restoration or is it simpler again?! The "holes" are not problematic at all apart from occasional sensitivity in one. But I can certanly live with that!

georgieporgy, I would love to stick to the one dentist - unfortunately I have been very unlucky with the 3 I have been to over the last 9 months.

Thanks for the advice!

georgieporgy

it's simpler still. adhesive is applied to the tooth ( like a thin layer of water) and it acts as a seal to prevent sensitivity. it can be left like that. cost here is approx 20euro.

an adhesive filling requires the addition of filling material on top of that adhesive.

why don't you come over here south of the border and get your teeth fixed properly.....:P. (just kidding )

sudzs

why don't you come over here south of the border and get your teeth fixed properly...... (just kidding )

LOL! I had the best dentist in the world, in Drogheda, but unfortunately he's retired now. If he wasn't I would consider flying over for a bit of TLC!

ballsymchugh

sudz, where in the uk are you??

also, nhs dentists have targets to hit. your case is an easy 3 units. as was said earlier, she's not wrong in suggesting you should get them filled, and it's probably going to cost you the same price as a private check up.

sudzs

I'm in Plymouth ballsymchugh. It's only temporary though!

I know how the NHS system works, and I've already paid up front for the work too, it's just that there was something about it on BBC4 recently and there was a suggestion of the possibility of work being done that wasn't necessarily necessary.

If drilling into a tooth is not really necessary then I'd prefer it wasn't done. You'd understand if you saw the rest of my knashers!!!

ballsymchugh

you shouldn't need any drilling done anyway, the only thing i'm wondering is why she suggested anaesthetic. as georgie and big g have said, they're just adhesive fillings so the drilling shouldn't be necessary.
also, it could be toothbrush wear. it adds to the abfraction. i worked with people who always filled those 'defects' but i only did anything if there was a sensitivity issue.

sudzs

The NHS dentist is going to do regular fillings and not adhesive fillings, as far as I could make out but I get a bit addled after being in the chair! She mentioned the type, white but the sort you would use in the part of the tooth where there is a lot of saliva and is hard to keep dry.

I think I will ring today and check what it is I'm booked in for! But am 99% sure she said I would be having anaesthetic.

I'll let ye know later!

sudzs

Right, I just rang the NHS dental surgery to ask what sort of filling I would be getting. Not very succesful as the best the receptionist could do, after asking the dentist, was "it will be some sort of composite filling" and that if they weren't very deep then I wouldn't need an anaesthetic. Maybe the dentist wouldn't have taken note of the specific type of filling she was planning to do.

I'm none the wiser now anyway!

ballsymchugh

sounds like glass ionomer. i wouldn't worry about it, newer glass ionomer filling materials are excellent, and very easy to use. it's all up to you if you want to get them done though. but please cancel with enough notice if you don't!!

sudzs

Thanks again ballsymchugh! That sounds allright, I'll go ahead with it so!

But if I get there and it turns out I'm getting drilled and filled then I'm afraid I will have to jump out of the chair and leave them with an empty slot in the appointment book!