Dental Fillings
A filling removes the decayed part of a tooth and rebuilds it with tooth-coloured composite. It is the smallest restorative appointment there is, and the cheapest point at which to deal with decay.
What a filling involves
The decayed tissue is removed, the cavity is cleaned and conditioned, and composite is built back into the shape of the tooth in layers, each one set with a curing light. Then the bite is checked and the surface is polished.
The aim is to take out the decay and as little sound tooth as possible. Every millimetre of healthy tooth left in place is strength the tooth keeps, and it is what decides how many more times that tooth can be restored before it needs a crown.
- Tooth-coloured composite, not amalgam
- Decay removed, sound tooth kept
- Layered and cured, then shaped
- Bite checked and adjusted
- Usually one appointment per tooth
- You eat normally the same day
Why the size of the filling matters
A filling is held in place by the tooth around it. The more of the tooth that has gone, the less there is to hold, and at some point a bigger filling makes the tooth weaker rather than stronger.
Walls do the work
Two sound walls and a filling is comfortable. One thin wall and every bite is trying to flex it away from the rest of the tooth.
Fillings have a life cycle
Each replacement is slightly bigger than the last, because the margin is where new decay starts. Three or four cycles in, the conversation changes to a crown.
Between teeth is the blind spot
Decay on the surfaces where two teeth touch is invisible to the eye. That is the main reason we take x-rays at all.
What tooth-coloured composite gives you
And what it asks of the appointment.
It disappears into the tooth
Shade is matched to the tooth around it. On a front tooth this takes real time and it is time worth spending.
Less tooth has to be removed
Composite bonds to the tooth, so the cavity does not need shaping to hold it mechanically the way amalgam did. Less sound tooth goes in the bin.
It needs a dry field
Bonding fails if the tooth is wet, which is why we use isolation and why a straightforward filling still takes twenty or thirty minutes.
How we do them here
A filling is a small appointment where the details matter: the contact point, the bite, and how much sound tooth survives it.
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01
We will tell you when we are close to the nerve
Deep decay sometimes means the nerve is already involved, and you should hear that at the appointment rather than a month later.
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02
The contact point is not an afterthought
A filling that leaves a loose contact with the tooth next door traps food every meal. Getting that tight is a large part of the skill.
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03
We do not replace sound fillings
An old amalgam that is intact and sealed does not need changing for the sake of it. If it is fine, you will be told it is fine.
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04
Written figures before we start
The number of surfaces changes the fee, so you get it in writing once we have looked.
How the appointment runs
Twenty to forty minutes per tooth, depending on the size and the position.
Anaesthetic where it is needed
Not every filling needs it. Shallow ones in enamel often do not. We will ask, and we will not talk you out of having it.
Removing the decay
Only the affected tissue comes out. We stop at sound tooth, and where the decay is deep and close to the nerve we say so before finishing.
Building the composite back
Placed in layers and cured. On a back tooth the contact with the neighbouring tooth gets particular attention, because a loose contact traps food.
Shape, bite and polish
The anatomy of the chewing surface is shaped back, the bite is checked in and out of position, and the surface is polished so plaque has less to grip.
When is a filling the right answer
And when it is not.
| What we find | Usual answer | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Early decay in enamel only | Watch, fluoride, change at home | May not need drilling at all |
| Decay into dentine, good walls | Filling | One appointment |
| Large old filling, thin walls | Crown, or watch it | Depends on symptoms |
| Cracked cusp | Crown | A filling would not hold it |
| Decay reaching the nerve | Root canal treatment, then usually a crown | Several appointments |
Fees depend on the number of surfaces and are given in writing at the appointment.
Questions patients actually ask
Do not see yours here. Call the practice on 441 292 0107 and ask. Nobody minds the question.
Call 441 292 0107How long does a filling last?
Several years is normal and many last much longer. It depends on the size, where it is, how you bite and how well the margins are kept clean.
Nothing in the mouth is guaranteed, and this practice will not claim otherwise.
Do you use white fillings or amalgam?
Tooth-coloured composite. It bonds to the tooth, so less sound tooth has to be removed to hold it, and it is matched to the shade of the tooth around it.
Will I need an injection?
Often, but not always. Shallow fillings in enamel frequently need nothing. We will ask you rather than decide for you, and we will not try to persuade you out of it.
My old filling fell out. Is that an emergency?
Usually not, but do not leave it. Call 441 292 0107 and describe it. If there is pain, swelling or a sharp edge cutting your tongue, say so when you ring. See emergency dental care.
Can a filling be done at the same visit as my check-up?
Sometimes, if there is chair time and the filling is straightforward. Say when you book that you think something needs doing, so the desk can allow for it.
Book a visit
Tell us what you need and when suits you. We will come back to you to confirm a time. If it is urgent, calling is faster.
- New patients welcome, every age.
- Free exams for children under three.
- CG Insurance, Argus and BF&M claims filed for you.
- Something hurting today? Call 441 292 0107.
Request an appointment
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