Conservative

The conservative is the branch of dentistry specialized in the removal of caries and in the subsequent reconstruction of the tooth, a procedure that allows you to restore the correct shape and function to the teeth.

Until 10 years ago, almost all fillings were made in amalgam, a very resistant but unsightly metal material; a great disadvantage of dental amalgam is that it has proved to be mechanically unfavorable as in the long term it can lead to fracture of the residual walls of the tooth.

In recent years, new materials called composite materials have been introduced which are demonstrating significant advantages. Composites are aesthetic materials that are supplied to the dentist in different colors therefore it will be possible to perform reconstructions that are completely invisible to the patient’s eye; they also allow to keep much more healthy dental structure intact than amalgam; finally, thanks to their adhesive properties, they prevent the risk of fracture characteristic of amalgam fillings.

The filling of a decayed tooth is a procedure that lasts about an hour and is performed under local anesthesia, therefore in total absence of pain; usually the dentist uses the rubber dam which allows to separate the operating field (ie the decayed tooth) from the patient’s mouth with advantages in terms of comfort and safety for both the patient and the operator.

Caries is manifested by a dark spot with poorly defined edges of soft consistency localized on the occlusal surface of the teeth (the chewing one) or on the interproximal surfaces (between one tooth and another). It does not give any symptoms except when it is now very extensive: in these circumstances the tooth will be hypersensitive to cold and it may be necessary to devitalize the tooth. Caries is caused by bacteria, mainly S. Mutans and Lactobacilli; with careful oral hygiene maneuvers it is always possible to prevent its onset.