All 17 Clinics that provide Fillings in Italy

Dental fillings are used to make small repairs to teeth that have been damaged due to tooth decay or fracture. They are normally relatively simple and inexpensive. For this reason very few (if any) people travel abroad for fillings.

However, fillings are often necessary as part of larger work, or the dentist may discover  they are necessary and it often make sense to get  fillings  done at the same time as other work.

What is a Dental Filling or Inlay?

A filling is simply a material that is placed into a cavity in a tooth. The filling helps to protect against further decay and strengthens the tooth.
You might need a filling if:

• There is minor decay or a tooth
• You  have a small fracture in a tooth
• If you have a metal/amalgam filling that you want replaced with more natural looking filling
• Composite filling are often used for purely cosmetic purposes in cosmetic bonding

Things to look out for are

• Composite fillings are more expensive that amalgams
• Not all dentists are trained in composite fillings
• Amalgam filling contain mercury which is released to the atmosphere after death (if incinerated)
• There are some, although unproven long term  health concerns associated with amalgam fillings

What is the procedure like?

Once the dentist has isolated and anesthetised the damaged area of the tooth, he will remove the decay with a drill or laser and cleanse the area of bacteria. The resulting cavity is roughed so that the resin will bond. It is then filled with an amalgam, composite or porcelain filling. In the case of composite fillings, the resin is applied in layers and hardened with a special light. Once the final layers have been applied the filling will be adjusted and polished.

What different types exist?

Amalgam – These are commonly referred to as metal fillings and can be quite visible. They contain mercury and although there have been ongoing questions about their long term safety there is no proof that they are a health hazard. However, it is becoming common for amalgam fillings to be replaced by composite fillings. Amalgam fillings have a lifespan of roughly 12 years

Composite/PorcelainComposite fillings can be made to match the coloration of your teeth. They are most costly and require specialized equipment and take longer to do.  More of the natural tooth can be preserved with composite fillings as the resin can be bonded in thin layers. Note that not all dentists can perform composite fillings.  Composite fillings have a lifespan of 5 to 7 years.

Inlays – If a large portion of you tooth is missing but a crown is not required then an inlay might be a good option.  An inlay involves a fabricated filling that is inserted between the cusps of a tooth – they can be made of gold, porcelain or resin. Inlays are considerably more expensive than fillings; however they are normally a replacement for a crown rather than a filling.

What affects the price?

• The dentist selected
• The position of the filling
• The number of tooth surfaces the filling has
• The number of fillings required
• The type of fillings and in the case of inlays the material used

Price Comparison (Amalgam)

Price lists should always be viewed with caution as many factors can increase or decrease the resulting price. The follow table gives some indicative costs for fillings across the world. Composite fillings tend to be twice the price of amalgam.

Italy is a treasure house of wonders. From the snowy peaks of the alps, through the galleries and churches of beautiful cities, to the beaches of a seemingly endless coastline, Italy has inspired travellers for hundreds of years.

Benefits of Italian Dentistry

Italy has a well regulated dental profession and for the traveller a huge variety of location. Outside of the big cities prices can be very competitive thanks to reduced costs. Implants for example can cost around 900 Euro, far less than in the U.K or Ireland.

Qualifications

Italian dentists receive a 5 year training from one of Italy's 30 dental schools. There are two recognized specialties, Orthodontics and Oral Surgery.

Continuing education is mandatory for dentists opperating within the public sector. Courses are accredited by the Ministry of Health and a dentist must acquire 150 credits in each 4 year period to stay in the public employment. Continuing education is promoted by all dental organizations in Italy and formal procedures for evaluating continuous professional development, outside the public sector, are currently under investigation. Article 19 of the ethical code stresses the requirement for continuous updating of skills, both medical and organizational, to provide the best treatment possible.

Additional Information

Organizations

The Federazione Ordini Medici Chirurghi e Odontoiatri (FNOMCeO) holds the register of dentists in Italy. The body is divided into provincial orders (103 in all) which promote the profession and keep the register up to date.

The Associazione Nazionale Dentisti Italiani and the Associazione Italiana Odontoiatri are the two main organizations representing the dental profession in Italy.

Ethics

Complaints

FNOMCeO inforces the ethical code for dentists in Italy. Each provincial order organizes an ethical committee which judges complaints against registered dentists. Complaints can result in the temporary or permanent suspension of a dentist's right to practice - such a judgement is binding across all 103 provinces.

Complaints may also be persued through the civil courts and any complaint brought to a provincial ethical committee of a criminal nature will be handled by the courts.

Data Protection

The ethical code details the requirements of Italian dentists to preserve the privacy of their patients and the safe storage of that data (articles 10, 11 and 12).

Dentists are also bound by civil law on the protection of sensitive data which complies with E.U. data protection laws.

Resources

Federazione Ordini Medici Chirurghi e Odontoiatri
Piazza Cola di Rienzo 80/A,
Roma
tel: +39 06 362031
website: www.fnomceo.it
ethical code: attach_3819.pdf(in Italian)

Ministry of Health
Lungotevere Ripa,
1 - 00153 Roma.
tel: +39 06 59941
website: http://www.ministerosalute.it/(in Italian)

The biggest choice of fillings clinics in Italy with Prices, Patient Reviews, Maps. Everything you need to find the best fillings for you in Italy.