A filling replaces tooth tissue lost to decay, injury or wear. We use materials that bond well to the tooth, withstand the forces of biting and are not visible in the mouth.
When a filling is enough and when more is needed
As long as the defect is small to medium-sized and the tooth has enough sound tissue of its own, we treat it with a direct filling in a single visit. When little of the crown is left — typically with large old fillings or after root canal treatment — an indirect restoration made in the laboratory will last longer: an inlay, onlay or overlay. Extensive damage calls for a crown.
We will see what makes sense in your case at the examination and on an X-ray. The deciding factors are the amount of healthy tissue, the load on the tooth when you bite and how you look after your teeth.
Materials we use
- White fillings made of light-cured composite — we match the colour to the shade of your tooth, so the filling is not visible. They are cured with light, and the tooth is fully functional straight after treatment. More details under light-cured composites.
- Ceramic fillings — the most durable and the most colour-stable; suitable for large defects in the back teeth, where the load is greatest.
- Glass ionomer cements — they release fluoride and hold well in a moist environment. We use them where they are more suitable than composite: in children’s teeth, for defects at the tooth necks and as a base under a filling.
- Coloured fillings for children — the same material, just in a colour your child chooses.
We do not use amalgam. We can safely replace old amalgam fillings — see amalgam filling removal.
How the treatment works
We numb the tooth, remove the decay and isolate the tooth from saliva — without a dry field, the adhesive does not bond properly. We then apply the material in layers, cure it with light and adjust the filling to your bite so that the tooth does not interfere when you chew. Most fillings are completed in a single visit.
The treatment is painless. In the early stages of decay, we can often avoid drilling altogether — see Icon® and treatment of tooth decay.
How long a filling lasts
Its lifespan depends on the size of the filling, the load on the tooth and above all on hygiene. The most common reason for replacing a filling is not wear of the material but new decay at its margin. What helps is home care, dental hygiene and a preventive check-up twice a year — the margins of your fillings are checked during the check-up.
