Gold inlay

introduction

A carious tooth can be restored in different ways, depending on the extent and depth of the defect. Small carious defects usually only require a simple tooth filling with the help of plastic filling materials (e.g. plastic), which are introduced into the cavity in a liquid state and then hardened.

In the case of extensive carious defects, this type of restoration is usually no longer possible, since the chewing function must be ensured in addition to the closure of the tooth. In most cases, the attending dentist recommends making a so-called for large carious defects Inlays (synonym: inlay filling).

Also read: The inlay as a restoration for a destroyed tooth

An inlay is a form of dental prosthesis manufactured in a dental laboratory that can be permanently glued into the tooth. In addition to the treatment of carious defects, inlays also play a central role in the treatment of tooth defects caused by trauma.

In contrast to classic, plastic filling materials (plastic), an inlay is precisely shaped and then glued into the tooth to be treated. For this reason, inlays are generally many times more resilient than normal plastic fillings. In addition, an inlay filling impresses with its long shelf life.
In dentistry, a fundamental distinction is made between gold, ceramic, plastic and titanium-containing inlay fillings. In addition, in individual cases it can be useful to manufacture one from gold-ceramic mixtures. In terms of expansion, a distinction is made between inlays that only replace one tooth surface and those that cover two or more sides. A single-surface inlay is usually placed in the chewing surface of the affected tooth. Two-surface inlay fillings span the chewing surface and each side facing the neighboring tooth. If so much tooth substance has been destroyed that the stability of the tooth cannot be ensured even by inserting an inlay, a partial crown (overlay or onlay) should be made.
The gold inlay is now the most frequently used inlay filling. It is particularly suitable for the treatment of defects in the posterior region. Due to the stable and high-quality material and their exact fit, gold inlays usually have a particularly long shelf life. Since pure gold is generally too soft to effectively withstand the forces prevailing during the chewing process, gold inlays are mostly made with a platinum alloy. In this way, the gold inlay is not able to give way even with strong chewing pressure.

Learn more about the: Ceramic inlay

costs

The price for the Dental restoration with a gold inlay is made up of various individual values. Because of this it is not possible a flat total price to specify.

For the patient, however, it is important to notethat a gold inlay is a so-called Private service acts. That means that the statutory health insurance not obliged to is the cost of this type of Dentures to take over. As a rule, however at least a partial amountthat is the cost of an ordinary Tooth filling with amalgam corresponds to (20-35 euros), covered by the insurance. All other amounts due the patient has to pay privately. A special dental insurance again bears all costs that are not covered by the statutory health insurance.

Roughly, the costs for a gold-containing filler are set from four areas together. Besides the individual wishes of the patient and the material costs, they also play Prices of the treating dentist and the dental laboratory a major role. In addition, the price of a gold inlay is also different size, the desired quality and the exact fit dependent. The costs for a gold inlay fluctuate within Germany at the moment between 250 and 500 euros. At this amount they play material costs a rather minor role. The dental technician needs this to produce a gold inlay about 1 to 4 g of gold.

Manufacturing

A small caries usually only slightly affects the tooth structure and has little influence on its overall stability. If there is still enough tooth substance left after the removal, it is sufficient to fill the tooth with amalgam or plastic-containing materials.

In the case of extensive carious defects and extensive loss of tooth substance, however, this is usually no longer sufficient, as plastic filling materials cannot withstand excessive chewing pressure. There is a risk that the affected tooth will become porous and break over time. For this reason, a gold inlay should be considered after removing large caries. In addition to the high stability and long durability of such an inlay filling, the good compatibility of gold inlays is a further advantage. Few people are allergic to gold-containing dentures. In a direct comparison between gold and ceramic inlays, however, it must be taken into account that gold-containing materials tend to have a strong transfer of heat and cold and, for this reason, can lead to sensitivity. The restoration of a carious tooth with an inlay filling made of gold must take place in several independent sessions.

Learn more in our main article: Dental inlays

Preparation of the tooth

Before producing the gold inlay, the affected tooth must be prepared accordingly.

In a first step, the treating dentist must completely remove the carious defect with the drill and ensure that all pathogens are completely removed from the cavity. If necessary, the carious defect can be removed under local anesthesia. Depending on the extent of the caries, this treatment step can cover a period of approximately one hour.

Furthermore, the cavity must be prepared to accommodate the gold inlay. To ensure an optimal hold, the cavity is ground in a box shape (box preparation). In order to better cushion the chewing pressure, the individual walls of this box must be at an angle (so-called cone angle) of about 6 ° to the floor surface. In addition, all furrows and depressions in the area of ​​the cavity must be removed.

After the tooth has been successfully prepared, an impression of the dentition must be made. With the help of an impression that is as accurate as possible, the dental technician can produce a precisely fitting gold inlay. Since the production of the gold inlay in the dental laboratory takes a few days, the prepared tooth must first be temporarily restored. For this purpose, the attending dentist creates a temporary plastic filling (provisional) in the same session.

Manufacture and insertion

A model is made in the laboratory using the dental impression made in the practice. A precisely fitting wax inlay can then be formed on this model. After the wax model of the gold inlay has been embedded in a special casting mold, the wax is melted. In this way, liquid gold can be introduced into the cavity created within the casting mold. After several hours of curing, the gold inlay is released from the mold and further worked out. During this step the surface needs to be straightened and polished. In addition, it is checked whether the height of the gold inlay guarantees an exact bite with the remaining teeth or whether grinding is necessary.

In another treatment session in the dental practice, the gold inlay is then glued into the tooth. For this purpose, the treating dentist uses a special cement or uses plastic-containing adhesives. After the actual insertion, the bite height is checked again and the gold inlay is ground in if necessary.

Aftercare

The Gold inlay is normally already a short time after insertion completely resilient. However, it makes sense to avoid irritation and to minimize the risks of insert filling within the first few hours After gluing in the gold inlay, some basic rules must be observed. Within the first three to four hours ideally should no food to be consumed. Also on the Consumption of sugary drinks must be avoided for a short period of time after the dental treatment. Only in this way can one exact fit and a optimal marginal fit guaranteed. A too much pressurethat acts on the gold inlay during the first few hours could be Shift position within the cavity and a negative impact on the interaction between inlay and natural Tooth substance exercise. This can lead to an early loss of the gold inlay. Furthermore, there is a risk that Leftovers in the not yet fully cured Set adhesive and as Breeding ground for bacterial pathogens serve. The consequence can be the emergence of new ones carious defects be below the gold inlay (secondary caries).

In addition, patients who were provided with an inlay filling should regular check-ups, in which the seat and the margin of the Inlays must be checked. Furthermore, you need one equipped with a gold inlay denture, one particularly high level of care. Besides the ordinary Teeth cleaning with the toothbrush should also the interdental spaces at least once a day completely cleaned become. Floss or interdental brushes (Interdental brushes) are particularly suitable for long-term protection of the tooth substance in the area of ​​the gold inlay.

What should I do if the gold inlay has fallen out?

If the gold inlay has fallen out, you should see a dentist as soon as possible. The inlay that has fallen out should be kept well and brought to the dentist's appointment.

If an inlay falls out, this usually means that there is a defect such as a caries underneath and the the adhesive effect is lost goes. It is also possible that a side panel has broken off. This can usually be felt with the tongue.

If it is a caries located under the inlay, this must be eliminated and in most cases a new inlay must be created. If the tooth decay has already penetrated to the tooth nerve, the tooth needs root canal treatment. The corresponding tooth is often very sensitive to heat and cold. This is a sign of tooth decay.

If the inlay has fallen out, a dentist should be consulted quickly in order to find the cause of the loss of glue.

What should I do if I swallowed a gold inlay?

If you've swallowed an inlay, don't worry. In almost all cases, the inlay leaves the body naturally after 2-3 days. The gold inlay could even be completely disinfected and put back in the mouth.

Whether you make this decision and look for the inlay is up to you. The creation of a new gold inlay at the dentist costs around € 450-700.

Gluing in the old inlay costs maximum 50 €. However, it must first be clarified whether this is even possible.

If you want to be absolutely sure that the inlay has left the body, this can be proven radiographically.

Pain below a gold inlay

In most cases, pain under an inlay indicates an underlying tooth decay. Those affected often describe the pain as pulling and noticeable in the whole tooth. Stimuli such as cold, heat, acidity or sharpness often intensify the toothache enormously.

It can also happen that the tooth breaks itself, for example due to incorrectly acting chewing forces. In this case, a crack often forms along the longitudinal axis of the tooth. Bacteria migrate along this fracture gap and inflame the tissue or the pulp.

Read more about this under: Toothache under a crown

If the pain persists for several days, a dentist should be seen.

In most cases, an X-ray is taken to find the cause. If there is tooth decay under the inlay, the dentist will need to remove the inlay to access and remove the tooth decay.

What is the weight of a gold inlay?

On average, a gold inlay has a weight of approx. 5 grams. The weight depends on the tooth size.

The weight of molars can also reach approx. 10 grams.

Gold is a very soft material. Since pure gold would be too soft for a tooth filling, a Alloy, i.e. a mixture of gold and other metals. The attached metals increase the strength of the inlay.

Where can I sell a gold inlay?

If an old gold inlay had to be removed, it can be sold. In most cases, it can be taken to jewelers, goldsmiths, or specialty stores that buy gold.

However, one should seek out various offers in order to get the best possible deal. Sometimes the gold can also be sold on the Internet.

Since the alloy is unknown in most cases, the gold content must first be determined before the buyer can provide a value. The gold content can be determined by means of an X-ray fluorescence analysis. With this method, the inlay is bombarded with X-rays and the gold content is then determined using the fluorescence radiation.