Dental fillings – the painless way to fix and keep you teeth for life
Dental fillings restore cavities caused by tooth decay and can save your tooth before it’s too late. If you think you need a filling you can book a dental checkup online or contact us.
Dental Fillings Restore Cavities
Dental fillings shouldn’t be scary and it’s important to fix cavities at an early stage to save your tooth. Our gentle dentists are known for their calm and pain-free filling procedures, you may even fall asleep while they fix your teeth. Fillings are a common treatment used to fix a hole in a tooth caused by tooth decay. These cavities are also known as dental caries. Fillings restore your damaged teeth to their normal shape, stop the tooth from decaying further and prevent the development and spread of infection.
Act soon to save your tooth
If you are in pain please call us right now, we keep emergency appointments open daily for urgent fillings and dental work. Alternatively, you can book an appointment online with Michael or Amanda for a dental examination.
Signs you May Need a Filling
- Hole or dark spot in the tooth
- Missing or broken fillings
- Tooth sensitivity
- Sharp pain in or near the tooth
- Toothache
Types of Dental Fillings
- Composite
- Ceramic
- Gold
- Outdated amalgam
- Porcelain
Thompson Dental dentists regularly use composite fillings made from a blend of non-toxic materials. Composite material provides a ‘natural’ aesthetic (look) and can be applied to both front or back teeth. These dental restorations provide durability and strength to the tooth.
Advantages of Composite Fillings
Natural colouring
Composite fillings are made to match the shade of existing teeth, making them less visible than amalgam fillings.
Minimal preparation time
Composite fillings are relatively quick and require less drilling.
Saves the tooth
Without fillings, teeth may need to be removed altogether which is considerably more expensive and requires more recovery time.
Extends the life of the tooth
Prevents bone loss and protects the integrity of the jaw and oral cavity.
Quick recovery time
With composite fillings, you can chew as soon as the procedure is complete.
Dental Filling Procedure
To fix a cavity the dentist will remove the decayed portion of the tooth and then “fill” the area on the tooth where the decayed material was removed to restore the integrity of the tooth. Fillings can also repair worn down, cracked or broken teeth.
Dental Filling FAQs
Filling cavities in your teeth is necessary to save the tooth, stop the cavity from getting bigger and prevent the spread of infection. Fillings fortify the structure of decayed teeth. Each tooth in your mouth helps maintain the integrity of your jaw bone which is necessary for vital oral functions such as chewing and speaking. A filling procedure also stops bacteria from the site of decay from spreading into your jaw.
Your dentist will numb the tooth with local anaesthetic and check that you have no feeling. The decayed areas are then removed with specialised dental equipment. The tooth is then prepared with a bonding agent and filled with the dental composite that restores the original shape of your tooth. When the restoration has cured and set, the tooth will be shaped and polished. The dentist will advise you about any precautions and necessary aftercare.
Most composite fillings can last about 7 to 10 years, depending on the size and location of the dental restoration. Some dental fillings even last a lifetime.
The anaesthetic numbs the tooth resulting in no pain during the procedure. You may feel a mild discomfort after the anaesthetic has worn off, however, our dentists are known for their excellent workmanship resulting in no pain after the procedure. If you are a new patient who has previously encountered an uncomfortable experience resulting in dental fear you may request nitrous oxide or sedation dentistry. Dr Thompson is so gentle that some of his patients forgo the anaesthetic altogether.