A filling replaces the part of a tooth that decay has destroyed, and the honest version of the conversation is about timing: a small cavity filled early is a small procedure, while the same tooth left alone can end up needing a dental crown or root-canal treatment. Tooth-coloured composite fillings bond to the tooth and suit small and medium cavities in most areas of the mouth, and larger ones may call for an inlay, onlay or crown, because a big filling can leave the remaining walls of the tooth weak enough to crack under normal chewing.
What usually brings up dental fillings
Restorative work repairs what damage, decay or wear has already done. The right treatment depends far more on how much sound tooth remains than on which procedure you have heard of.
- A cavity found at an exam
- Sensitivity or food trapping
- A chipped edge
- A worn, cracked, or missing filling
How you know a filling may be needed
Most early decay causes no symptoms at all, which is why it is usually found at an examination rather than by you.
- A visible hole, dark spot or rough edge
- Food consistently packing between the same two teeth
- Sensitivity to sweet things, or to cold that stops quickly
- A filling that has chipped, worn or fallen out
- Floss that shreds in one particular place
- Nothing whatsoever: most early decay is silent
Treatment paths a dentist may weigh
More than one reasonable option usually exists, including doing less than you expect. A thorough discussion should cover the alternatives and the cost of waiting.
- Tooth-colored composite filling
- Monitoring when treatment is not yet indicated
- Onlay or crown for larger damage
- Root-canal or extraction discussion for deeper problems
What having a filling involves
A straightforward filling is usually a single appointment of under an hour.
- Numbing the tooth, where the depth of the cavity calls for it
- Removing the decayed tissue
- Cleaning and preparing the cavity
- Placing the material in layers and shaping it
- Checking and adjusting your bite before you leave
How the treatment is planned
What can be saved and what can't gets established through an exam and X-rays. From there, expect an explanation of the recommended approach, the reasonable alternatives, the visit count, and what might change mid-treatment.
Request the estimate in writing and ask what's not included. Build-ups, root canals and laboratory work most often get priced as extras: see dental insurance and financing.
What changes the price of a filling
Two fillings on the same tooth number can differ substantially in scope.
- The size of the cavity and how many surfaces it covers
- Composite (tooth-coloured) versus amalgam
- Whether the cavity is deep enough to need lining
- Front tooth versus back tooth
- Whether an inlay or onlay is more appropriate than a filling
When a filling is not the answer
There is a point where more filling stops being the sensible option.
- Inlay or onlay where the cavity is large but the tooth is sound
- A dental crown where little sound tooth remains
- Root-canal treatment if the decay has reached the nerve
- Preventive treatment and monitoring for very early decay that has not yet cavitated
Start with an assessment
Select the closest restorative option. Submit the request, and from there we confirm the visit type and arrange the appointment with a Vermont dental practice.
Common questions
Dental Fillings: questions people ask
Will I need an injection?
It depends on the depth. Shallow cavities in enamel often need nothing; anything approaching the inner layer usually does. Tell the practice if you are anxious about injections: see dental anxiety support.
How long do fillings last?
It varies with size, material, bite forces and how well the area is cleaned. Larger fillings work harder and fail sooner. No dentist can give you a guaranteed number of years.
Should I replace my old silver fillings?
Not simply because they are old or silver. Replace them when they have failed, are leaking, or the tooth around them has broken down: see replacing old dental work.
Why does my tooth still feel sensitive afterward?
Some sensitivity for a short period after a deep filling is common as the tooth settles. Sensitivity that worsens or persists for weeks is worth reporting.
Can decay be reversed without a filling?
Very early decay that has not yet formed a cavity can sometimes be arrested with fluoride and dietary change. Once the surface has broken down, it needs restoring.
Can I eat straight after a filling?
Once the numbness has completely worn off. Composite fillings are set hard before you leave, so the wait protects you from burning or biting yourself rather than protecting the filling: see what to eat after dental treatment.
Is the filling material safe?
Both composite and amalgam are long-established restorative materials. If you have a preference or a concern, say so. The choice is often clinical but frequently has more than one reasonable answer.
Can I be told which treatment I need before an examination?
No. Whether a tooth needs a filling, an onlay or more depends on how much sound structure remains, which takes an examination and X-rays.