empastes

Empastes are dental fillings used to restore teeth affected by caries, trauma, or wear. The term is common in Spanish and Portuguese, where empaste refers to a filling material placed inside a prepared cavity; in English, the equivalent term is dental filling or filling material.

Materials used for empastes include dental amalgam (a mercury alloy), composite resin (tooth-colored), glass ionomer cements, resin-modified glass ionomer, ceramic, and gold inlays or onlays in selected cases. Amalgam is durable and economical but less esthetic; composites are aesthetically matched to teeth but may have higher technique sensitivity and varying longevity in different locations. Glass ionomer cements release fluoride and bond to tooth structure but are typically used for smaller restorations or as bases. In modern practice, a combination of materials may be used depending on location, occlusion, and patient preference.

The procedure involves assessment and radiographs, anesthesia as needed, removal of decayed tissue, cavity preparation, placement of the chosen material, curing or setting, finishing and polishing, and bite adjustment. Temporary restorations can be used for interim treatment.

Complications include secondary caries around the restoration, marginal leakage, fracture of the restoration, postoperative sensitivity, and wear. Replacement is common over time due to changes in tooth structure or material wear.

Safety considerations center on the use of dental amalgam and concerns about mercury exposure; major health authorities consider modern dental amalgam safe for the majority of patients, while some countries limit or phase it out for children or pregnant people in favor of tooth-colored alternatives.