Treatments · Fillings and Restorative Treatment
Fillings and Restorative Treatment
Tooth structure lost to decay, fracture or wear is rebuilt with restorations that restore the shape and function of the tooth. Tooth-coloured composite is now standard for front and back teeth; for large losses a laboratory-made inlay or onlay is preferred.
A filling rebuilds tooth structure lost to decay or fracture with tooth-coloured composite in a single visit; for large losses a laboratory-made inlay/onlay is used. Decay caught early is solved with a small filling; waiting leads to root canal treatment. Composite fillings last 7–10 years on average; care and grinding habits determine their life.
How decay forms and when a filling is needed
Plaque bacteria on the tooth surface produce acid from sugary food; the acid dissolves the enamel, first leaving a white spot and then a cavity. Early lesions confined to the enamel can be arrested with fluoride and good care; once decay reaches the dentine, a filling is needed. Waiting brings the decay closer to the nerve and creates the need for root canal treatment.
Composite (white) fillings
A light-cured resin material matched to the tooth colour. Because it bonds chemically to the tooth, it needs less drilling than amalgam and supports the tooth. It is placed in one visit under local anaesthesia: decay is removed, the surface prepared, the composite placed and cured in layers, the bite adjusted and the surface polished. It is also used for front-tooth aesthetics (chipped corners, closing gaps).
Inlays / onlays
If the decay is large but the tooth is not weak enough to need a crown, an impression is taken and a porcelain or composite piece is made in the laboratory and bonded to the tooth. Marginal fit and durability are better than a direct filling; two visits are needed.
Replacing amalgam fillings
Sound, non-leaking amalgam fillings do not have to be replaced for colour alone. Old fillings with decay at the margin, fractures, leakage or cracks in the tooth are replaced with composite or an inlay. The filling is removed in pieces to keep tooth loss to a minimum.
Step by step
- Diagnosis: examination and, if needed, a bite-wing X-ray; the depth of decay and vitality of the tooth are assessed.
- Anaesthesia: local anaesthesia for deep decay; may not be needed for shallow lesions.
- Removal of decay: only decayed tissue is removed; healthy tissue is preserved (minimally invasive).
- Restoration: composite placed and light-cured in layers; for inlays/onlays an impression is taken, a temporary placed and the piece bonded a week later.
- Bite and polish: adjusted so that no high spot remains; a smooth surface stains less.
Duration
- Composite filling: 1 visit, 20–45 min per tooth
- Inlay / onlay: 2 visits, one week apart
- Amalgam replacement: 1 visit
Afterwards
Do not eat until the numbness wears off (2–3 hours) to avoid biting your lip or cheek. Hot/cold sensitivity for a few days is normal; if it lasts more than 2 weeks, have it checked. If the filling feels "high" when biting, a short bite-adjustment visit is enough. Composite fillings last 7–10 years on average depending on hygiene, grinding and the size of the filling; a night guard prolongs their life for grinders.
Alternatives
If the remaining tooth walls are thin or the tooth is root-treated, a crown instead of a filling; if the decay has reached the nerve, root canal treatment; for early white-spot lesions, fluoride and resin infiltration can stop progression without a filling.
- With very deep decay close to the nerve, root canal treatment may be needed after the filling; this is discussed in advance.
- Composite fillings wear faster in people who grind; a night guard is recommended.
- For very large losses, an onlay or crown lasts longer than a direct filling.
FAQ
Fillings and Restorative Treatment
Does getting a filling hurt?
It is done under local anaesthesia; no pain is expected during the procedure. Very small, shallow cavities can be filled without anaesthesia if you prefer.
Are white fillings durable?
Today's composites withstand chewing forces on back teeth. For very large cavities an onlay or crown lasts longer.
Why does it twinge after the filling?
With deep decay, working close to the nerve can cause sensitivity for a few days to weeks. It should fade; if it increases or pain starts on its own, have it checked.
Will the filling change colour?
Composite may stain slightly over the years with tea, coffee and smoking; polishing removes most of it. Porcelain inlays/onlays do not change colour.
Can I have a filling while pregnant?
Yes, especially safely in the second trimester. Just tell us that you are pregnant and how many weeks.
Appointment
Examination appointment for Fillings and Restorative Treatment
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