Fillings and tooth decay
Stopping decay while it is still small: cleaning out the damaged area and rebuilding the tooth with a tooth-coloured material, usually in a single visit.
Decay is an area where bacteria have weakened the enamel and, deeper down, the dentine. It doesn't heal on its own: it grows over time, and a small cavity today becomes a root canal or a crown tomorrow.
Treatment means cleaning out the damaged tissue and rebuilding the tooth with a composite filling, a tooth-coloured material. The earlier we catch it, the more of your own tooth stays.
Suitable if
- Decay found at a check-up or on an X-ray.
- Sensitivity to sweet, cold or hot in one particular tooth.
- Old fillings that are cracked or have come out.
- Chipped teeth or broken edges.
Not suitable if
- Decay that has reached the nerve, with pain that comes on its own: that needs root canal treatment first.
- Badly broken-down teeth that need a crown or an onlay rather than a filling.
Your alternatives
For the same cavity, the choice depends on how much of the tooth is left:
- A composite filling suits most small and medium cavities. It is done in a single visit.
- An inlay or onlay is a piece made in the lab and bonded into the tooth, when the cavity is large and a direct filling would be too weak.
- A crown covers the whole tooth, when too little of it is left.
For decay just starting, still in the enamel, it is sometimes enough to watch it and strengthen the enamel with fluoride and good cleaning. We tell you honestly when that is the case.
How it goes
Consultation and plan
Decay shows at the examination and, especially between teeth, on X-rays. We show you where it is and how deep, then agree the order of treatment, starting with the most urgent.
Preparation
Local anaesthetic, so you feel nothing. We isolate the tooth so it stays dry and clean while we work: composite only bonds well to a dry surface.
The treatment itself
We remove the decayed tissue down to healthy dentine, then rebuild the tooth in thin layers, each hardened with a light. Finally we shape it, check your bite and polish.
Check-ups and maintenance
At regular check-ups we look at the edges of fillings and catch new decay while it is small. Brushing, flossing and fewer sweet snacks between meals keep it away.
How long it takes overall
- Consultation and X-ray
- one visit
- A typical filling
- one visit
- Several cavities
- a few visits, area by area
- Inlay or onlay
- two visits
What the cost depends on
The cost depends on how many cavities there are, how big and on which surfaces of the tooth, and on the type of restoration: a direct filling or a lab-made piece. It also matters whether a cavity is close to the nerve and needs extra protection.
You get the estimate after the consultation and X-ray. More on how cost is set in the guide to treatment cost.
Costs
How the cost of a treatment is set →What you will feel
Treatment is done under local anaesthetic, so you only feel the vibration and pressure of the instruments. We tell you what comes next and stop when you raise your hand.
Afterwards, your lip and cheek stay numb for an hour or two: don't chew until it wears off, so you don't bite yourself. The tooth may be sensitive to cold for a few days, especially after deep decay.
Risks and limits
After deep decay, the nerve can stay irritated, and sometimes, even with a correct filling, the tooth later needs root canal treatment. We tell you beforehand when decay is close to the nerve.
A filling doesn't last forever: its edges can wear, and new decay can start there. Regular check-ups catch it in time.
After treatment
Eat once the anaesthetic wears off. A bite that feels too high on the treated tooth is adjusted in a few minutes: call us if you still feel it after a day. Sensitivity that grows instead of fading, or pain that wakes you at night, is worth a call.
Common questions
- How long does treatment take?
- A typical filling is done in a single visit. Several cavities are treated area by area, over a few visits.
- Does it hurt?
- No. We work under local anaesthetic, and there may be some temporary sensitivity afterwards.
- How often do I come back for check-ups?
- Generally every six months, to catch new decay while it is small.
- How do I know I have decay?
- At first it usually doesn't hurt. Sometimes there is sensitivity to sweet or cold. Most decay shows at a check-up and on X-rays before you feel it.
- Do tooth-coloured fillings last as well?
- Yes, for most small and medium cavities. For very large ones, a lab-made piece or a crown lasts better; we tell you when that applies.
- Can I replace old, dark fillings?
- Yes, especially when they are cracked or have decay at the edges. Intact ones we discuss: sometimes it's better to leave them.