Dental fillings

Dental fillings form an integral part of providing conservative dental care when a tooth is decayed or cracked.

Dental fillings are a common procedure whereby a damaged tooth, compromised by decay or cracks, is cleaned and removed of decay and restored to their normal shape and appearance. Fillings can be made of a number of materials to restore the shape, size and function of any tooth in the mouth.

No one ever wants to have a hole in their tooth, but being proactive can sometimes mean the difference between a small filling or something much more complicated. Once decay has taken hold in a tooth, it will continue to damage more and more of the tooth, becoming more painful until treated by a dentist. A filling repairs the damage caused by decay and stops any more bacteria from entering the tooth. Fillings can be made of a number of different materials and can be used to repair any tooth in the mouth.

Types of fillings

• Composite fillings are a popular and natural-looking solution made of resin. Composite resin is soft and malleable so it can be shaped to fit the cavity. A curing blue light is used on the composite to harden it that makes it durable and is coloured to match natural teeth.
• Amalgam fillings is a mix of metal alloys that are soft when being used to restore a cavity but harden once in place. Amalgam contains minute traces of mercury and this has turned many people away from the product. It’s also a dark colour that stands out in stark contrast to the surrounding tooth.
• Indirect gold fillings are a long-lasting and durable alternative but are rarely used these days. The cost of a gold filling is generally higher than a silver amalgam and the colour doesn’t match natural teeth.
• Indirect porcelain onlays and inlays – restorations that are used when a large amount of tooth structure has been removed. Onlays and inlays retain more natural tooth structure than a crown and will strengthen a weakened tooth.

What does the procedure involve

Our dentists will provide anaesthetic and the area around the tooth; once number, they will remove any decay. The objective is to leave as much sound, natural tooth structure as possible. The cavity will then be disinfected and dried before the filling is placed.

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