Decay is bacterial damage that dissolves enamel and then works into the softer dentin underneath. A filling is the repair: the affected material is cleared away and the space is rebuilt so the tooth can bite, chew, and seal itself against further attack. The composite resin we place bonds to what remains of the tooth and is tinted to your own enamel shade, so the repair does not announce itself when you laugh.
How a cavity gets started
Bacteria living in plaque feed on sugars and starches and release acid as a by-product. That acid draws minerals out of enamel, and when it happens faster than saliva can replace them, a soft spot forms and eventually opens into a hole. Early on there is nothing to feel at all. By the time a tooth reacts to something cold or sweet, or floss keeps catching in the same place each night, decay has usually reached the dentin beneath the enamel and will not reverse on its own.
What the appointment is like
Most single fillings take well under an hour, and one visit is normally all that is required.
- The area is numbed, and we wait until it is fully numb before starting
- Only the decayed structure is removed, leaving sound enamel alone
- The surface is cleaned and conditioned so the resin can bond to it
- Composite is placed in thin layers, each cured with a bright light
- The filling is shaped, then your bite is checked and adjusted
Why we place composite rather than amalgam
Silver amalgam served dentistry for a long time, but it carries drawbacks. It is dark and obvious in a smile, it contains mercury along with other metals, and it is held in place by the shape of the cavity rather than bonded to the tooth, which means more healthy structure has to be cut away to keep it there. Amalgam also does not flex the way tooth structure does under a heavy bite, and over years that mismatch can contribute to cracks. Composite bonds, behaves more like natural tooth, and can be matched to your shade.
The first day or two afterward
Numbness usually fades within a few hours. Until it does, be careful with hot drinks and try not to chew on that side, since it is easy to bite a cheek you cannot feel. Some sensitivity to cold or pressure over the following days is common and generally settles down. What should not persist is a filling that feels high when you tap your teeth together. That is a quick adjustment, so call rather than waiting to see whether it wears in.
When a filling is not the right repair
There is a limit to how much of a tooth composite can sensibly replace. If decay has undermined a cusp, or a large old restoration has left the walls thin, a crown that caps the whole tooth is more likely to hold up under years of chewing. And if bacteria have reached the pulp, the nerve and blood supply at the center of the tooth, it needs root canal therapy before it can be restored at all. A lingering ache, throbbing that wakes you at night, or sensitivity that outlasts the cold drink by several minutes all point that way.
Replacing fillings you already have
Restorations do not last forever. Margins wear down, stain lines appear along the edges, and decay can start again underneath where no brush reaches. If you have older amalgam work you dislike the look of, or one restoration is showing wear on a radiograph, we can talk through replacing it. There is no need to remove a sound filling simply because it is metal, and we will tell you plainly if that is what we find when we look.
Reducing the odds of the next cavity
Fluoride toothpaste twice a day and floss once a day remain the two habits with the most behind them. Beyond that, it is worth looking at how often sugar reaches your teeth rather than how much of it there is, since sipping a sweet drink across an afternoon keeps acid levels raised for hours at a stretch. A regular cleaning and exam picks up the early demineralized patches while they can still recover. If you would like to book a visit, our front desk can find a time that works.
Common questions about tooth-colored fillings
Does getting a filling hurt?
The tooth is numbed first and we wait until the anesthetic has fully taken effect, so what you generally notice is vibration and water rather than pain. If anything sharp breaks through, say so and more anesthetic can be given. Soreness at the injection site, and some cold sensitivity for a few days afterward, are both normal.
How long do tooth-colored fillings last?
That varies with the size of the filling, where it sits in the mouth, your bite, and how well plaque is kept off the margins. Small fillings in low-stress areas tend to do better than large ones on chewing surfaces. Grinding your teeth shortens the life of any restoration, which is one reason it is worth mentioning if you do.
Can I eat right after a filling?
Composite is cured with a light and set before you leave, so there is no waiting period for the material itself. The reason to hold off is the numbness. Until sensation returns, usually a few hours, you risk biting your cheek, lip, or tongue without noticing, and hot drinks can burn without warning.
Should I replace my old silver fillings?
Not automatically. An amalgam filling that is intact, sealed at the edges, and free of decay underneath can reasonably be left in place. Replacement makes sense when it is worn, cracked, leaking, or decay has started beneath it, or when you would prefer the repair not to show. It is a conversation, not a rule.
