Fillings

Fillings

Dental fillings are used to repair cavities, which grow over time if left untreated. Having your cavities filled helps combat long-term damage to your teeth.

What are the benefits of fillings?

Cavities can cause enormous damage to your oral health. Fortunately, teeth fillings are versatile, strong and reliable. They also protect against infection caused by plaque and tartar, which builds up in those hard-to-brush areas.

And there’s no need to be self-conscious, either: white fillings are indistinguishable from your natural teeth.

How do fillings work?

Dental fillings are primarily used to fill cavities caused by decay. However, they can also repair damage caused by acid erosion, chipping, abrasion and attrition—wear and tear, in other words.

If you’re experiencing nagging toothache, pain during chewing or sensitivity to hot and cold, you may have a cavity. If so, your dentist will remove any parts of the tooth that are damaged, decayed or weakened. They will then shape, clean and dry the remaining tooth in preparation for filling.

The type of filling you need depends on the damage.

• White fillings, sometimes called composite fillings, are closely matched to the colour of your teeth. They are extremely natural-looking, so they’re generally used for teeth that are visible when you smile, laugh or speak.
• Amalgam fillings are the more traditional form, composed of a combination of metals. Hardy and resilient, they can last for decades.
• Inlays and overlays are used for larger chewing surfaces, such as on your back teeth.

If your cavity is particularly deep, or if the centre of your tooth is damaged, you may instead require root canal treatment.