fillings.jpg

General

Fillings

High-quality, gentle cavity repair. Choose from options such as amalgam and white dental fillings to give your tooth a new lease of life.


Fillings benefits

Straightforward

The procedure is simple and stress-free.

Effective

Restores structure and functionality of a hardworking tooth.

A filling to suit you

Choose from hard-wearing amalgam or subtle white dental fillings.


What are Fillings?

Dental fillings are used to fill tooth cavities caused by decay. They improve the function and structure of damaged teeth and offer long-lasting results while protecting them from further damage.

Amalgam dental fillings:

Amalgam fillings are a well-established and inexpensive way to repair damage to the tooth structure. They offer a highly effective way to restore the structure and functionality of a tooth, particularly the hardworking back teeth.

White dental fillings:

White composite fillings are one of the most popular cosmetic dental treatments around. As well as blending with the surrounding tooth colour, so as to be virtually unnoticeable when you speak or laugh, white composite fillings often require less drilling than silver amalgam fillings.

fillings-card.jpg


How it works

1

Preparation.

The tooth area to be treated and the area around it is numbed first in order to remove any decayed part of the tooth. A base or liner may then be placed on the tooth if indicated.

2

Placement.

The filling material is mixed and packed tightly into the tooth.

3

Shaped.

Finally, the filling is shaped and smoothed down and your bite checked.

4

Aftercare.

Maintain good oral hygiene to take care of your new filling.



A word from our patients

We always want to make sure our patients have an exceptional experience and leave our practices with happy smiles. Here are some of our most recent success stories.

Needed an old tooth filling replacing. Treated calmly and very courteously. No rush and a sense of quality dentistry and attention to detail.


FAQs

What is amalgam filling?

Dental amalgam fillings, or silver fillings, are a well-established way to fill cavities and repair damage to the tooth structure. The filling material used is hard wearing and is made from elemental mercury, silver, tin and copper.

Are old amalgam fillings dangerous?

No, they do not pose a serious health risk.

Can you replace amalgam fillings with composite?

Some patients choose to replace their old silver dental fillings with those made from composite resins. This is entirely up to the patient, for whilst amalgam fillings are durable and inexpensive, some people prefer to opt for a white composite filling, which has the advantage of being tooth coloured.

Can mercury leak from amalgam fillings?

Whilst small amounts of elemental mercury can leak as vapour, levels of mercury found in these dental fillings are not significant enough to lead to adverse health effects.

Do amalgam fillings cause teeth to crack?

Any tooth which has had decay and a filling will have weak points which will make it more prone to cracks. Teeth that have had large amalgam fillings are more likely to crack than those with smaller fillings. Therefore, it is important to maintain regular check-up appointments to monitor these teeth.

Do amalgam fillings expand and contract?

The filling materials used can corrode over time causing the dental filling to expand and contract. You should maintain good oral hygiene and regular visits to your dentist to try to maintain your fillings and detect any problems at an early stage.

How long does an amalgam filling take to set?

They set partially in 1 hour and are at full strength in about 24 hours.

What colour is amalgam filling?

Sometimes known as silver fillings, these dental fillings are silver in colour.

How long does a dental filling take?

It can take anything from 20 minutes to an hour to place a dental filling.

Why do dental fillings fall out?

One of the most common reasons for fillings falling out is when tooth decay develops underneath the dental filling, causing the filling to be lost. Maintaining a good dental care routine can prevent this from happening and extend the life of your fillings.

Is there gluten in dental fillings?

Composite material used for white dental fillings may contain non-dietary gluten, a common additive in plastic.

What are white composite dental fillings made of?

The filling materials used for white composite dental fillings are made from powdered glass quartz, silica or other ceramic particles added to a resin base.

Can you eat after dental filling?

How long to wait before eating depends on which type of filling you opt for. Dental amalgam fillings can take up to 24 hours to harden, so we recommend waiting for this time period to pass before chewing on the side of the mouth where the filling is located. White dental fillings harden immediately, however you may wish to wait at least two hours if you’re still numb from anaesthetic.

What’s the difference between amalgam and white dental fillings?

Amalgam fillings are the more traditional silver fillings. If you don’t want your fillings to show inside your mouth, a white filling, made from a composite material that bonds to the natural tooth structure, is the best option. White fillings can be moulded and then bonded to your tooth, which can mean less drilling is required, and less of the tooth needs to be removed to place the filling.

Will it hurt to get a dental filling?

No. Fillings are carried out under a local anaesthetic to numb the area so you won’t feel a thing during treatment, and white fillings require much less drilling than amalgam. If you are at all nervous about having an injection, do let us know so that we can gently help you through the procedure – we have a number of tried and tested techniques at our disposal and lots of experience helping nervous patients.

What happens after a dental filling treatment?

Some patients experience extra sensitivity for up to three weeks after the treatment, which gradually subsides. For most, though, a filling treatment is very straightforward. The anaesthetic wears off after 1–3 hours and after that you should be able to return to normal activity. Children must be observed until the anaesthesia has completely worn off.

How long will my white dental filling last?

White dental fillings have an average lifespan of around seven years, though this can be much longer if you follow a good oral hygiene routine at home.

What are the advantages of white dental fillings over silver fillings?

White dental fillings have the major advantage of being tooth-coloured, so your filling closely matches the colour of your teeth. It’s also a more conservative option, as fewer parts of the tooth are removed when placing a white composite filling.


Ready for the next step?

Not the right treatment you’re looking for?

Find your local practice