Conservative dental treatment is a form of treatment performed by protecting the teeth and minimizing material loss. It would be appropriate to give detailed information about this branch of science, which generally covers the treatment of dental cavities.

Cavity
When teeth are not brushed well and oral care is poor, bacteria in the plaque and tartar on the teeth survive thanks to “sugar”. The acid formed after using sugar softens the hard tissue of the teeth and causes decay.
Filling
The softened and damaged dental hard tissue is removed and the tooth is cleared of decay. After the decay is cleaned, a suitable filling material must be placed in the formed space (cavity). This filler should be easy to apply, cover the cavity perfectly and not cause any leakage. At the same time, the aesthetic appearance of this filling is preferred by patients and us physicians. If the patient has sensitivity to heat, inability to chew comfortably, or severe pain along with the cavity, or if the decay has reached the living tissue (pulp) inside the tooth, root canal treatment is performed first and then the filling is placed in the cavity.
Filling types
Amalgam Filling / Composite Filling / Porcelain Filling
Generally, as a filling material in dentistry; amalgam, composite, compomer or porcelain fillings (inlay-onlay) are used.
AMALGAM FILLING
It is a mixture of mercury with silver, copper and tin. This mixture, which was used routinely in the past, is now slowly being abandoned due to aesthetic concerns.
Advantages of Amalgam Filling
- It is more economical than other fillings.
- It is easy to apply.
- It is resistant to chewing forces.
- It significantly prevents the formation of decay under the filling.

COMPOSITE FILLER
Composite fillings; It consists of the combination of different substances. It can be shaped into plastic and hardens with ultraviolet (UV) light. This is why it is called radiant filling among the public. It is a filling material routinely applied in our clinic and in developed countries. It has a high aesthetic success rate, especially in the front teeth.
Advantages of Composite Filling
With composite fillings, teeth that could only remain in the mouth and maintain their integrity with porcelain veneers can now display a highly aesthetic appearance without the need for veneers.
- The application can be completed in a single session.
- Since there is no need to remove much material from the tooth before placing the filling, they do not cause loss of dental hard tissue.
- Even very small cavities can be closed.

PORCELAIN FILLING (Inlay-Onlay)
Porcelain fillings are a filling method used to preserve healthy tooth tissue in patients who have a lot of material loss and who need to reduce the entire tooth and apply a crown. It is preferred over amalgam fillings because it is more aesthetic and useful.
Advantages of Porcelain Filling
- It has a long-term use and is durable.
- The renewal time is very long.
- It is extremely aesthetic.
- The hardness of the material is very close to the hardness of tooth enamel.
- It is extremely resistant to chewing forces compared to composite fillings in the back teeth (molars).
- Since the cavity is prepared, measurements are taken and prepared in the laboratory, it has a perfect tooth fit.