Tooth Filling — what it actually is
A filling repairs a tooth that has lost structure to decay or fracture. The decayed tissue is removed, the cavity is cleaned, and the space is rebuilt with a tooth-coloured composite resin that is bonded to the remaining tooth and set with a curing light.
Filling a cavity early is the whole point of catching it early. Decay that reaches only the enamel and dentine is a twenty-minute filling. The same decay left alone reaches the nerve, and then it is a root canal and a crown — several visits, and many times the cost.
Signs you may need it
One of these on its own is worth a look. Two or more, and it is worth booking rather than waiting to see whether it settles.
- A sharp twinge with cold water or sweet food
- Food packing into the same spot after every meal
- A visible hole, dark line or dark patch on a tooth
- A rough or broken edge you keep finding with your tongue
- An old filling that has chipped, stained at the margin, or fallen out
- Ache that comes and goes when you bite on one particular tooth
How it is done here
The tooth is numbed with local anaesthetic, decay is removed, and the cavity is shaped and cleaned. Composite is placed in thin layers, each one hardened with a curing light, then shaped to match the tooth and adjusted against your bite so it feels like nothing was done. Deep cavities close to the nerve get a protective liner first, which gives the nerve a chance to settle rather than going straight to a root canal.
What to expect, step by step
These are genuinely sequential — each step depends on the one before it, which is why some treatments cannot be finished in a single visit.
- 01
Anaesthetic
A topical gel first, then local anaesthetic, so the injection itself is barely felt.
- 02
Decay removal
Only the affected tissue is taken. Sound tooth is left alone.
- 03
Bonding
The cavity is conditioned and a bonding agent applied so the filling holds.
- 04
Layering
Composite placed and light-cured in layers for strength and a proper shade match.
- 05
Bite check
Shaped, polished and adjusted until your bite feels exactly as it did before.
Questions patients ask about fillings
Will a filling hurt?
The tooth is numb, so the procedure itself is not painful. The only sensation most people notice is the vibration of the drill and the water spray. Mild sensitivity to cold for a few days afterwards is normal and settles on its own.
How long does a filling last?
A well-placed composite filling commonly lasts five to ten years, and often considerably longer. Life expectancy depends on the size of the filling, whether you grind your teeth, and how well the area is cleaned.
Silver or tooth-coloured?
We place tooth-coloured composite. It bonds to the tooth so less healthy structure has to be cut away, it matches your natural shade, and it can be repaired rather than replaced.
When can I eat?
Composite is fully set before you leave, so you can eat as soon as the numbness wears off — usually two to three hours. Avoid chewing on that side while your lip is still numb, purely so you do not bite it.
Can a cavity be reversed without a filling?
Only at the very earliest stage, when decay is still confined to enamel and shows as a white spot. That can sometimes be arrested with fluoride and a change in cleaning. Once there is a hole, the tooth cannot repair itself.