Fillings For Dental Cavities

Dental Fillings

Most people have one or two dental fillings in their mouths! Probably the most common dental treatment, dental fillings are here to stay.

Tooth Decay

Your dentist will carry out an examination to see if you have any damaged teeth or cavities. Most commonly, a dental X-ray will highlight any cavities that are not visible to the naked eye. A filling is a way to repair a damaged or decayed tooth. Your dentist will remove all the damaged tooth tissue and restore the tooth to its natural shape. As a result, by sealing the tooth, your dentist can stop further damage or decay occurring within the tooth.

Types of Dental Filling

A tooth filling comes in lots of different materials. Historically, dental amalgam was the material of choice, but now more cosmetic options are available.

Invisible White Fillings

Imagine your perfect smile, clean white teeth with no metal fillings. Gone are the days when ugly metal fillings were the only option to fill dental cavities.

Modern, tooth-coloured fillings constructed from composite or porcelain bond to your teeth for a stronger, natural-looking effect. These revolutionary fillings are virtually undetectable and are easy to apply. Using modern technology we can colour-match the filling to your existing teeth. White fillings are definitely as good as an older style metal filling. A far more attractive and healthier option of repairing a tooth instead of using mercury filled amalgams.

This type of composite material is adhesive and can stick to your teeth easily, therefore it is also used in dental bonding to reshape teeth.

Amalgam Fillings

What people call a silver filling is actually a mix of metals called dental amalgam. Although they still have their place in dentistry, their use is now far less common. Their main disadvantage is that these fillings contain mercury, however, they are very strong and durable.

Gold Fillings

Often described as the gold standard, these are not actually a filling at all but an insert that fits into the teeth. Constructed by a dental laboratory, they are cemented into place. Therefore, a more accurate term would be gold inlay or gold onlay.

Porcelain Fillings

An excellent cosmetic option, however, similarly to gold inlays these are not a filling at all. Due to their construction in a laboratory, a more accurate term would be porcelain inlays or porcelain onlays.

How much is a dental filling?

The costs depend on the material used. Therefore, please refer to our fees page for more information.

Does a tooth filling hurt?

Having a dental filling should not hurt. We are able to make the area numb so that you don't feel a thing. See our painless injections page for more information. After your treatment, you might find that the filling is sensitive for a short period of time. If this is the case, then contact the practice to ask if anything needs to be done.