Fillings

What Are Fillings?

A filling repairs a tooth that has been damaged by decay. The decayed portion is carefully removed and the space is restored with a tooth-coloured composite resin, which is bonded in place, hardened with a curing light, and shaped to match the tooth's natural contour. Most fillings are completed comfortably in a single visit.

Modern composite fillings blend in with the surrounding enamel, so the repair is far less visible than older silver amalgam work. Beyond appearance, a filling stops decay from spreading deeper toward the nerve — and treating a cavity early is almost always simpler, faster, and less expensive than treating what it turns into if it is left alone.

When Should You Consider It?

• A visible hole, pit, or dark spot on a tooth: Visible changes to the tooth surface usually mean decay has already taken hold.
• Sensitivity to sweet, hot, or cold: Short, sharp sensitivity when eating or drinking is a common early sign of a cavity.
• Food repeatedly catching in the same spot: This often indicates a cavity or a gap where a filling has broken down.
• An old filling that is cracked, worn, or leaking: Fillings do not last forever — replacing one before it fails protects the tooth underneath.
• A cavity found at a routine check-up: Many cavities are caught before you feel anything at all, which is the ideal time to treat them.

What to Expect

1. Assessment and anaesthetic.
   The tooth is examined and X-rayed to confirm the extent of the decay, and local anaesthetic is used so you stay comfortable throughout.
2. Removing decay and placing the filling.
   The decayed tissue is cleaned away and composite resin is layered into the space and hardened with a curing light.
3. Shaping and bite check.
   The filling is polished and your bite is checked and adjusted so the tooth feels completely natural.