Dental fillings are widely used by dentists to restore your teeth, treat tooth decay and improve their appearance. Regular checkups can often reduce the need for teeth restoration but if you’re suffering from painful tooth decay or damage to a tooth, your dentist can use a tooth coloured material to fill the damage caused by decay and restore the function and form of your tooth.
Dental fillings may also be suggested as an alternative to a dental crown.
What are dental fillings?
When you have a cavity in your tooth, it means there is a hole in the centre of that tooth. These holes are bad for several reasons.
Cavities can expose the nerves in your teeth, which can cause anything from minor discomfort due to greater sensitivity to hot and cold food and drink, to significant pain due to nerve damage. Additionally, if the nerve dies, you will likely need a larger procedure to treat the tooth, such as a root canal.
Cavities can also weaken the tooth itself, which can lead to further chipping, cracks, and damage.
For these reasons, the hole will need to be cleaned and filled with a ‘filling’ to avoid pain, discomfort, and further damage to the tooth and your overall oral health.
Your dentist will suggest the best option for your teeth - it usually depends on the placement of the tooth that needs a filling - and you can decide on the best filling material together.
What are the materials used in fillings and restorations
Some tooth fillings today are still made from metals such as mercury, which protects the damaged tooth but doesn’t bond with the tooth and can be prone to problems. Thanks to advances in dental technology, K1 Dental doesn’t use amalgam fillings. We use tooth coloured materials that do bond with your tooth, providing stronger, more comfortable and durable fillings.
The outer part of your tooth is made up of enamel, which is the hardest natural material produced by humans and animals. As it does not contain any living tissue it is quite easily replicated using dental porcelains.
The inner part of your tooth contains dentine, which is living tissue quite similar to bone. To improve the function of your tooth your dentist may use composite resins to provide the strength you need to bite and chew but which will also protect the nerve tissues in the centre of your tooth.
The advantages of dental fillings
Dental fillings are a popular option for the following reasons:
- Prevent further damage and discomfort: A lot of dental discomfort and damage comes from cavities and dental decay, and a dental filling is a great way to stop the damage and treat the pain.
- Quick and easy: Dental fillings are extremely quick and easy. Most people will be in and out within 30 minutes, so it can be completed during a work break.
- Long-lasting: With good dental care, dental fillings will generally last for at least a decade. Fillings made from gold can last for even longer, for as much as 20 years or more.
How do dental fillings work?
Even if you think you have a cavity, your dentist will still want to book a check-up to inspect and confirm the issue. They will then book a second appointment to have the filling done.
Here is what to expect during your dental filling appointment:
- Your dentist will inject a local anaesthetic to completely numb the area
- They will use a special tool to remove the decay from the tooth
- They will fill the cavity
- They will shape and polish the tooth so it feels natural to bite onto
- The area will still feel numb for a few hours following the treatment
- The whole treatment will usually only take 20-30 minutes
- The site may feel a little tender for the next day, so avoid biting down on hard foods
- Your dentist will check on the filling during your next routine appointment
How do I know if I have tooth decay?
During routine appointments, dentists will check for tooth decay with a visual inspection and x-ray scans. They may discover tooth decay during this process.
However, for many people, the first signs of decay are found at home. Tooth decay often causes discomfort and pain, leading to an appointment with the dentist.
These are some of the signs that you've got tooth decay:
- Sensitivity when you eat hot, cold, or sugary food or drinks.
- An ache around a tooth.
- Pain when you bite down.
- A hole that you can feel with your tongue, or see when you look in a mirror.
- Black, brown, or white staining on a tooth.
How to avoid tooth decay
While tooth fillings are a great option for treating tooth decay, it’s always best to avoid getting cavities in the first place. This means brushing for two minutes twice per day, flossing every day, and avoiding consuming lots of sugary food and drink. That’s because plaque and bacteria in your mouth can feed on sugars and build up on your teeth, where they erode the enamel and cause cavities and other damage.
Taking care of your teeth is crucial to your overall health, as there are links between oral health and heart disease, obesity, and diabetes. Smoking and other bad habits exacerbate already compromised dental health for adults, so it's important to maintain a great oral health routine and regular dental check-ups.
K1 Dental only uses high-quality materials that have a much stronger durability than cheaper alternatives
We also layer the dental filling and restoration material and cure it in stages. This process may take longer but it creates a better bond with the tooth and a better result for your teeth.
Tooth fillings also give your dentist the chance to cosmetically enhance your tooth by widening, straightening or whitening it so that the tooth fits seamlessly alongside the others.
Frequently asked questions
A tooth filling will vary in cost depending on a number of factors, including the placement of the tooth, which filling material you use, and how many fillings you get at once.
Dental fillings typically last 10-15 years if looked after correctly, but filling materials such as gold can last even longer.
Good dental care such as a healthy diet, regular flossing and brushing, and regular dentist check-ups will help to ensure the longevity of your filling.
No, tooth fillings don’t hurt because the area will be numbed with a local anaesthesia before the treatment even begins. The site may be a little tender for the following day after the procedure, but you can either take over-the-counter pain medication or avoid chewing using that tooth during this time.
The most painful part of a tooth filling is usually before you get it - the cavity itself can cause pain and discomfort, but the filling will treat the cause to avoid further pain.
No, a tooth filling is incredibly common, and most Australians will need at least one during their lifetime. You can get a tooth filling completed in less than an hour and not think about it again for many years to come.
The most common side effect of dental fillings are tenderness around the area following the treatment, which can be managed by over-the-counter pain medication. Other less common, side effects include:
- Infection that would need to be treated with antibiotics
- Dental fillings chipping or cracking over time
- Dental fillings falling out over time
Your dentist will watch for signs of damage to your filling over time, so regular check-ups will usually catch these problems before they occur.