The most common dental treatment there is, and the one that prevents most of the expensive ones.
A filling repairs a tooth damaged by decay or a small fracture. We remove the damaged tissue, clean the cavity, and restore the tooth with a material that bonds to what is left.
Caught early, a filling is a short, routine appointment. Left too long, the same tooth needs a root canal and a crown.
Signs You Might Need One
- Sensitivity to sweet, hot or cold that fades quickly
- A visible hole, pit or dark spot on a tooth
- Food catching in the same place repeatedly
- A rough or chipped edge you can feel with your tongue
- A dull ache when biting on one particular tooth
Plenty of cavities cause no symptoms at all, which is the argument for regular checkups. Decay between teeth in particular is invisible without X-rays until it is large.
What Happens
- Freezing — local anaesthetic so you feel pressure but not pain
- Removing the decay — clearing out the damaged tissue
- Preparing and cleaning the cavity
- Placing the filling — composite is bonded in layers and cured with a light
- Shaping and checking your bite — so it feels normal when you close
Most fillings take 20 to 40 minutes. You can eat once the freezing wears off — composite is fully set before you leave.
Tooth-Coloured Fillings
We use composite resin, matched to your tooth shade. It bonds to the tooth structure, requires removing less healthy tooth than older silver amalgam did, and is invisible in normal conversation.
If you have existing amalgam fillings that are sound, there is generally no clinical reason to replace them. When one fails or decay develops underneath, we replace it with composite then.
When a Filling Is Not Enough
If too much tooth structure is gone, a filling will not hold — it flexes, leaks, and eventually fails. In those cases a crown is the right restoration.
Where decay has reached the nerve, the tooth needs root canal treatment before it can be restored. We will tell you which situation you are in before starting, not partway through.
Cost and Coverage
Fillings are priced by size and by how many surfaces of the tooth are involved. A small single-surface filling costs considerably less than one rebuilding three surfaces of a molar. See fees and payment.
Fillings are covered under the Canadian Dental Care Plan and by most private plans.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does it hurt?
No. The tooth is frozen first. You will feel vibration and pressure but not pain.
How long do fillings last?
Composite fillings typically last several years to well over a decade, depending on size, position and how hard you grind.
Why is my tooth sensitive afterwards?
Mild sensitivity for a few days is normal, particularly with deeper fillings. If it persists beyond a couple of weeks or worsens, contact us — the bite may need adjusting.
Can I eat right after?
Once the freezing wears off, yes. Wait, or you will bite your cheek.
Can a cavity heal on its own?
Very early enamel demineralisation can sometimes be remineralised with fluoride. Once there is an actual cavity, no — it only gets larger.
Book an Appointment
Book online. In pain now? See emergency dental care.