Are white fillings right for me?
White fillings may be suitable if your tooth has a small chip, crack or cavity, but most of its structure still remains. Most cavities are caused by tooth decay, which could cause further damage or lead to tooth loss if it's not treated in time.
A damaged tooth may feel painful or sensitive, affect your ability to eat or put you at risk of infection, so we recommend you contact our clinic as soon as you notice a problem. Our dentists will examine your mouth and tell you if you could benefit from a filling or another treatment.
If your tooth is too severely damaged or weak for a filling, we may recommend other options such as porcelain inlays and onlays or a dental crown.
What does the treatment involve?
If we think you could benefit from a filling, we'll explain exactly what's involved in the procedure so you know what to expect. We may need to take dental x-rays to help us plan your treatment more effectively.
We use a local anaesthetic to prevent you from peeling pain during the treatment, and you can discuss other sedation options if you feel nervous.
Before placing a filling, we need to access the cavity or damaged part of your tooth using a dental drill. We'll then remove any decayed tissue and clean the site to make sure it's free from bacteria.
We can then apply the composite resin filling in layers, using UV light to harden each layer before applying the next one. Once your filling is complete, we'll carefully shape and polish the surface to make sure your normal bite is restored.
Depending on how many fillings you need, this treatment can usually be completed in a single appointment.