Carmel Dental Clinic
Tooth-Coloured Fillings
Tooth-coloured fillings in Vellimadukunnu, Kozhikode
A cavity caught early is one of the smallest and least expensive things a dentist treats. The decay is removed and the tooth rebuilt with a filling shaded to match it, usually in a single visit and often before it has ever hurt.
- Typical visit30–60 minutes
- Sittings1
When this treatment is usually needed
If any of these sound familiar, it is worth being examined. None of them is a diagnosis on its own — several different problems can produce the same symptom.
- A tooth that is sensitive to sweet, hot or cold
- Food catching in the same place between two teeth
- A dark spot or a visible hole in a tooth
- A rough or sharp edge where a piece has chipped away
- An old filling that has cracked, darkened or fallen out
How we do it here
The specifics that shape your visit, rather than a generic description of the procedure.
- Decay removed and the tooth rebuilt in the same visit
- Filling shaded to match the tooth, so it does not show
- Local anaesthesia whenever the tooth needs it
- Old, cracked or leaking fillings checked and replaced where needed
How the visit usually goes
Every step is explained before it happens, so nothing arrives as a surprise.
- 1Examination
The tooth is examined and, where decay may be hiding between teeth, an X-ray shows how deep it goes.
- 2Numbing, if needed
Very small, shallow fillings sometimes need none. Anything close to the nerve is done with the tooth numb.
- 3Removing the decay
Only the decayed and weakened part of the tooth is removed, keeping as much healthy tooth as possible.
- 4Filling and shaping
The tooth-coloured material is placed in layers, hardened with a curing light, and shaped to your bite.
- 5Checking the bite
You bite on a thin marking paper so any high spot can be smoothed away before you leave.
This page describes a dental procedure in general terms. It is not a diagnosis and not a treatment plan, and outcomes vary from person to person. What is right for you is decided after a clinical examination at the clinic. See our terms and medical disclaimer.
After your treatment
General aftercare. The instructions you are given at the clinic, for your own mouth, come first.
- Wait until the numbness wears off before eating, so you do not bite your cheek or tongue.
- A tooth-coloured filling is fully hardened before you leave, so there is no need to avoid eating on it once the feeling returns.
- Mild sensitivity to cold for a few days is common after a deeper filling and usually settles.
- If the bite feels high once the numbness has gone, call the clinic. A quick adjustment prevents soreness.
- Brush twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste and clean between the teeth, so the edges of the filling stay free of new decay.
Questions we are actually asked
Does getting a filling hurt?
Not with the tooth numb. You feel pressure and vibration, but not pain. Very small fillings are sometimes done without anaesthetic; if you would rather have it anyway, say so.
How long does a filling last?
It depends on its size, where it is and how you use your teeth. Small fillings can last many years. Large fillings on back teeth take heavy chewing forces and may eventually crack, at which point a crown can be the better repair.
Can you replace my old silver fillings?
If an old amalgam filling is cracked, leaking or has decay under it, yes. Replacing a sound one purely for appearance means removing some healthy tooth, so it is worth talking through the pros and cons first.
What affects the cost of a filling?
The size of the cavity and how many surfaces of the tooth it covers. You are told the cost after the examination, before the filling is done.